Alcohol Consumption: An Overview of Benefits and Risks

@article{Standridge2004AlcoholCA,
  title={Alcohol Consumption: An Overview of Benefits and Risks},
  author={John B. Standridge and Robert G. Zylstra and Stephen M. Adams},
  journal={Southern Medical Journal},
  year={2004},
  volume={97},
  pages={664-672}
}
Published health benefits of regular light-to-moderate alcohol consumption include lower myocardial infarction rates, reduced heart failure rates, reduced risk of ischemic stroke, lower risk for dementia, decreased risk of diabetes and reduced risk of osteoporosis. Numerous complimentary biochemical changes have been identified that explain the beneficial effects of moderate alcohol consumption. Heavy alcohol consumption, however, can negatively affect neurologic, cardiac, gastrointestinal… 
View on Wolters Kluwer
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
88 Citations
Highly Influential Citations
1
Background Citations
40

88 Citations

Cardiovascular risk factors: can long-term alcohol withdrawal benefit heavy drinkers?
TLDR
The combination of the beneficial and adverse effects of alcohol consumption has been consistently shown in most studies to result in Jor U-shaped curves that express the relationship between mortality or cardiovascular events in humans and the consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Alcohol and Pathophysiology
TLDR
This chapter outlines the pathogenic mechanism and clinical condition of alcohol-related disorders in each organ system and alcohol biomarkers useful for diagnosis.
Alcohol Consumption and Health Status In Older Middle-aged And Elderly Persons: Findings From A Longitudinal National Population Health Survey Yia-ln
TLDR
It is suggested that light-to-moderate alcohol consumption confers some health benefits in older adults and among survivors, alcohol consumption showed no consistent relationship with increases in psychological distress.
Endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular risk profile in long-term withdrawing alcoholics
TLDR
Previous heavy alcoholism, in spite of long-term withdrawal, is associated with endothelial dysfunction and a wide cluster of haemodynamic, vascular and metabolic abnormalities that indicate an unfavourable cardiovascular and metabolic risk profile even in apparently disease-free former alcoholics.
Differences in alcohol use between younger and older people: Results from a general population study.
Effects of Ethanol Intake on High Density Lipoprotein Metabolism in Humans
TLDR
The effects of ethanol on HDL metabolism, as outlined in this chapter, are of clinical, as well as research interest.
Prevalence and Correlates of At-Risk Drinking Among Older Adults: The Project SHARE Study
TLDR
Alcohol use was common among older adults in this large sample of primary care patients, and male Caucasians, those ages 60-64, and those with lower levels of education were most likely to have high-risk alcohol use of any type.
Association of Alcohol Use Disorder on Alcohol-related Cancers, Diabetes, Ischemic Heart Disease, and Death: A Population-based, Matched Cohort Study.
TLDR
People with alcohol use disorder (AUD) appear to have higher rates of adverse health outcomes in the year beforeAUD recognition, and death at the time of AUD recognition, compared with matched controls during the 20-year follow-up.
Can nurses stem the rising tide of alcohol abuse?
TLDR
The campaign report reveals that in excess of 9 million drinkers, in England alone, are potentially damaging their health by disregarding current recommended alcohol-consumption guidelines.
Posttraumatic stress disorder, alcohol use, and physical health concerns
TLDR
Health concerns associated with PTSD do not appear to be due to problem drinking, and infrequent/light drinking, even for women with PTSD, may be associated with fewer health concerns.
...
...

References

SHOWING 1-10 OF 79 REFERENCES
Balancing the Risks and Benefits of Moderate Drinking
  • R. Ellison
  • Medicine
    Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
  • 2002
TLDR
Middle‐aged or older men and post‐menopausal women with no contraindications to alcohol use should be informed that they have, on average, net health benefits from the regular consumption of small‐to‐moderate amounts of alcohol.
[Is drinking alcohol good for your health?].
TLDR
The accumulating scientific evidence shows that a daily consumption of less than 30 grams of alcohol for men and less than 15 grams for women is compatible with the above goal and is not associated with health risks; for most individuals it is appropriate to recommend mild to moderate alcohol consumption as part of a healthy life style for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
The Health Effects of Moderate Alcohol Intake in Humans: An Epidemiologic Review
TLDR
No beneficial effect of moderate drinking on mortality has been demonstrated in young adults (premenopausal women and men who have not reached their forties), and it is theoretically possible that moderate drinking in young adulthood might reduce the risk of later heart disease; however, this has not been clearly demonstrated.
Alcohol Consumption and Risk for Congestive Heart Failure in the Framingham Heart Study
TLDR
The relation of alcohol consumption to the risk for congestive heart failure is probably complex, reflecting the interplay of its coronary protective effects and its myocardial toxic effects.
Light-to-moderate alcohol consumption and mortality in the Physicians' Health Study enrollment cohort.
Moderate alcohol consumption and risk of heart failure among older persons.
TLDR
increasing levels of moderate alcohol consumption are associated with a decreasing risk of heart failure among older persons, independent of a number of confounding factors and does not appear to be entirely mediated by a reduction in MI risk.
Moderate alcohol consumption and risk of coronary heart disease among women with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
TLDR
It is suggested that moderate alcohol consumption is associated with reduced CHD risk in women with diabetes and should not be routinely discouraged.
Alcohol consumption and risk of dementia: the Rotterdam Study
Alcohol consumption and the incidence of type II diabetes
TLDR
A non-linear relation was seen between alcohol intake and age adjusted risk of diabetes, with risk lowest in light and moderate drinkers and highest in heavy drinkers (quadratic trend p=0.03), and the adverse effect of heavy drinking seemed to be partially mediated through its effect on body weight.
Light-to-moderate alcohol consumption and prognosis in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction.
...
...