Moderate drinking may not ward off heart disease

A new analysis of 45 studies has found little evidence to the widely held belief that moderate drinkers have lower rates of heart disease than non drinkers. 

The new research published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs highlighted flaws in previous research.  Those recorded as "non drinkers" in previous studies may in fact be former drinkers who have had to quit drinking alcohol for health reasons. 

Most previous research involved seniors, reported as either drinkers or non drinkers.  Researchers  believe this has led to a misleading association between moderate drinking and heart health as similar studies of those under the age of 55 when monitored as they aged, that vigorously accounted for people's heart health at baseline indicated no benefits from moderate drinking.

To highlight the previous discrepancies, researchers report than in just one study of many, of the 9100 UK adults from the age of 23-55 in the study very few recorded as "non drinkers" were lifelong abstainers but almost all had given up alcohol at some point.

About the journal:  The journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs is a peer reviewed scientific journal.