Scientists from the University of Victoria in British Columbia have proven that drinking alcohol has no health benefits. Research published JAMA Network Open.
Many previous studies have claimed that a glass of wine or beer a day can reduce the risk of heart disease and death. But the authors of the new review say these studies are wrong.
Researchers analyzed 107 studies that evaluated the relationship between alcohol use and risk of death. About five million participants from different countries participated in these studies.
The authors showed that there was a lot of confusion and bias in these studies. After correcting for gaps and biases in the research, the apparent benefit of moderate alcohol consumption is greatly reduced, and in some cases completely eliminated.
For example, many studies have placed former alcoholics in the teetotal group if they quit drinking. But former drinkers tend to quit or cut back on alcohol due to health issues, which can make teetotalers look just as sick as moderate drinkers.
The analysis also showed that smaller amounts of alcohol had a greater effect on women’s risk of death. For example, women who drank 65 grams or more per day had a 61% increased risk of death, almost twice that of men who drank the same amount.
A drink containing 14 grams of alcohol is usually taken as the standard dose. In general, two or fewer standard drinks per week are the safest – at this level, the risk of harming yourself or others is minimal. Drinking three to six standard drinks per week increases the risk of developing several types of cancer, including breast and colon cancer. Seven or more standard alcoholic drinks per week significantly increase the risk of heart disease or stroke.