Reduce Alcohol Intake to Boost Heart Health, Lower Blood Pressure

A new study states that cutting-down on alcohol could reduce heart disease risk and even lower body mass index and reduce blood pressure.

The study, conducted by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, challenges the idea that moderate levels of alcohol are good for health.

Several studies, mostly observational, have linked moderate amounts of consumption of alcohol to good health and lower heart disease risk.

The present research was based on data from 50 studies that included a total of 260,000 people. The team also found that people who drink 17 percent less alcohol per week have 10 percent reduced risk of developing coronary heart disease and even have lower BMI.

In the new study, researchers examined the cardiovascular health of individuals who carry a genetic variant of the 'alcohol dehydrogenase 1B' gene, which is known to breakdown alcohol at a quicker pace. This rapid breakdown causes unpleasant symptoms including nausea and facial flushing, and has been found to lead to lower levels of alcohol consumption over time. By using this genetic marker as an indicator of lower alcohol consumption, the research team was able to identify links between these individuals and improved cardiovascular health.

In the study, researchers used a variant of 'alcohol dehydrogenase 1B' gene as a biological marker for alcohol consumption. People with this gene variant tend to not tolerate alcohol and generally end up with nausea and facial flushing after drinking. According to the researchers, the symptoms occur because these people break down alcohol more rapidly than others. Individuals with this variant are less likely to be heavy drinkers.

Researchers found that people with this gene variant had good cardiovascular health records.

"These new results are critically important to our understanding of how alcohol affects heart disease. Contrary to what earlier reports have shown, it now appears that any exposure to alcohol has a negative impact upon heart health," said co-lead author Michael Holmes, MD, PhD, research assistant professor in the department of Transplant Surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

"For some time, observational studies have suggested that only heavy drinking was detrimental to cardiovascular health, and that light consumption may actually be beneficial. This has led some people to drink moderately based on the belief that it would lower their risk of heart disease," said Holmes in a news release.