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A glass of wine a day does NOT damage your heart health (but it doesn’t help it either), study claims

A glass of wine a day does NOT damage your heart health (but it doesn’t help it either), study claims

A new heart study dismissed claims alcohol is bad for your heart

But it also questions studies that show drinking is good for heart health

In fact, the research by the Radiological Society of North America found around 4 large glasses of wine a week did nothing to affect the arteries

Source: Daily Mail

By Mia De Graaf

29 November 2016

A few drinks a week does nothing to increase – or lower – your risk of heart disease, a new study declares.

The research by the Radiological Society of North America dismisses fears that moderate alcohol consumption could be dangerous for one’s health.

However, it also questions claims that the occasional tipple could improve heart health.

The researchers studied 1,925 consecutive patients referred for heart scans with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD).

They asked each patient about their alcohol consumption habits using questionnaires.

On average, the patients consumed around 6.7 units of alcohol a week – equivalent to three and a half large glasses of wine.

Finally, they compared the survey results with each patient’s clinical history and scans.

The results showed that the amount of weekly alcohol consumption, whether light or moderate, was not associated with the presence of CAD.

In addition, when researchers looked at different types of alcohol and the presence of coronary atherosclerosis, no associations were found.

‘When we compared consumption between patients who had coronary artery plaques and those who had none, no difference was detected,’ said study author Dr. Julia Karády from the Heart and Vascular Center at Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary.

‘Evaluating the relationship between light alcohol intake (maximum of 14 units per week) and presence of CAD, we again found no association.

‘Furthermore, we analyzed the effect of different types of alcohol (beer, wine and hard liquor) on the presence of CAD, but no relationship was found.’

Dr. Karády added that while no protective effect was detected among light drinkers, as previously thought, no harmful effects were detected either.

She said she was confident that the methods used provided the most accurate results in this field of study to date.

For the new study, the researchers used coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), a highly accurate form of scanning.

‘CCTA is an excellent diagnostic modality to noninvasively depict the coronary wall and identify atherosclerotic lesions,’ said Dr Karády.

‘Furthermore, we’re able to characterize plaques and differentiate between several types.

‘Prior studies used cardiovascular risk factors – like high cholesterol levels–and cardiovascular outcomes to study the effects of alcohol.

‘But our study is unique in that we analyzed both drinkers and non-drinkers using CCTA, which may shed some light on how alcohol may or may not contribute to the development of fatty plaques in the arteries of the heart.’

The researchers are in the process of expanding the study to include more patients and perform further analyses.

Independently of whether alcohol has any effect on the coronary arteries, moderate alcohol consumption has been associated with a number of potential side effects, including negative long-term effects on the brain and heart.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3982848/A-glass-wine-day-does-NOT-damage-heart-health-doesn-t-help-study-claims.html#ixzz4RU0XhVqs