Do Epidemiological Data Support a Role for Alcoholic Beverages (Wine in Particular) as a Cardioprotective Substance?
There are more than 60 prospective studies that suggest an inverse relation between moderate alcoholic beverage consumption and CHD.2 A consistent coronary protective effect has been observed for consumption of 1 to 2 drinks per day of an alcohol-containing beverage; however, higher intakes are associated with increased total mortality.3 4 Although ecological studies support an association between wine intake and lower CHD risk, these studies are confounded by lifestyle, diet, and other cultural factors.4 5 6 7 Most cohort studies do not support an association between type of alcoholic beverage and prevention of heart disease; however, a few have suggested that wine may be more beneficial than beer or spirits.8 9 It remains unclear whether red wine confers any advantage over white wine or other types of alcoholic beverages. A synthesis of the observational studies is difficult because of wide variations in methodology, measurement error in alcohol consumption, and biological variabilit
