Modest Alcohol Consumption Linked to Lower Death Risk

The Health Professionals Follow-up Study is a large-scale study involving 51,529 American male health professionals. During the follow up of these men between 1986 to 2006, Jennifer K. Pai, from Harvard University (Massachusetts, USA), and colleagues report that 1,818 men were confirmed with a non fatal heart attack. Among heart attack survivors, 468 deaths were documented during up to 20 years of follow up. Repeated reports were obtained on alcohol consumption every four years. Average alcohol consumption was calculated prior to and then following the heart attack.  The overall results show that, in comparison with no alcohol consumption, the pre-heart attack and the post- heart attack intakes of light (0.1-9.9 g/day of alcohol, or up to one small typical drink) and moderate (10.0-29.9 g/d, or up to about 2 ½ to 3 drinks) amounts of alcohol were both associated with lower risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality among these men. The study authors conclude that: "Long-term moderate alcohol consumption is inversely associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among men who survived a first [heart attack]."