Drinking a wine or beer every day could be the key to preventing heart disease in the elderly, a study has revealed.
Monash University researchers observed the effects of alcohol consumption in 18,000 people aged 70 and above in the US and Australia.
They discovered that drinking between five and 10 beverages a week led to a much smaller chance of dying from heart problems.
School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine associate professor Robyn Woods said the research was insightful.
Drinking a wine or beer every day could be the key to preventing heart disease in the elderly, a study has revealed
Monash University researchers observed the effects of alcohol consumption in 18,000 people aged 70 and above in the US and Australia
‘It’s that range of five to 10 standard drinks a week where we saw real benefit for reducing the mortality risk, but also on cardiovascular disease,’ Prof Woods told The Daily Telegraph.
‘We are very confident to say that moderate alcohol intake does not appear to do harm in older people regarding cardiovascular disease and also for all-cause mortality.’
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Researchers came to the conclusion after observing participants of the ASPREE trial – Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly.
The study looks at the effects of lose-dose aspirin on healthy, elderly people and requires participants to self-report their alcohol consumption.
Fifty-seven per cent of participants were female, 43.3 per cent were male and most were aged in their mid-70s.
The participants were followed for around 4.7 years and researchers discovered the moderate alcohol drinkers fared better than their teetotaller counterparts.
They discovered that drinking between five and 10 beverages a week led to a much smaller chance of dying from heart problems
Lead author Dr Neumann pointed out all the participants were considered to be healthy before they started the trial.
The effects of moderate alcohol consumption remain unknown for elderly people who are less healthy and physically active.
People should also not use the study as encouragement to drink more alcohol with excess consumption linked with increasing risks of cancers, heart disease, dementia, stroke and liver failure.
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