Scientists from the Taipei Medical University in China refuted the results of the scientific study that showed the benefits of alcohol in small doses for the body. Study published magazine BMC medicine.
Previous scientific research has shown that small doses of alcohol have a positive effect on human health. The authors used a dataset from the National Health Survey conducted between 1997 and 2014. In total, the sample included more than 900 thousand people. The team created a J-curve in which low alcohol consumption is associated with health benefits and reduced risks of all-cause mortality, but the risks increase after crossing a certain drinking threshold.
The authors of the new paper set out to test these results by conducting a meta-analysis of more than 100 studies involving almost half a million participants and using lifetime abstainers as controls.
As it turned out, there was no reduction in deaths from low-dose alcohol. According to the authors, probably in the last study, the scientists made a mistake when interpreting the graph.
“When interpreting the J-shaped relationship between alcohol use and health risks, reverse causality should also be considered. “People who avoid drinking may already have poor health, while active and health-conscious people can drink in moderation while adhering to other beneficial practices.”
In addition, scientists noted that the claim that alcohol has a beneficial effect on the body may lead some people to drink excessively and become addicted.
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