Even one month without alcohol improves health markers, study shows
By Laura Kelly
July 16, 2018
Abstaining from alcohol for just one month can improve a number of health measurements, including lowering blood pressure and decreasing factors for cancer risk and diabetes, according to a recent study by researchers in the U.K.
The study followed men and women over a period of one month, described as moderate drinkers, but who consumed about 20 pints of average beer per week, more than two and a half times the U.K. drinking guidelines, which is about six pints per week.
In the U.S., moderate drinking is defined as one alcohol drink per day for women and two for men.
The researchers divided the men and women into two groups, 94 people in the abstinence group and 47 participants in the control group, who continued their alcohol consumption as usual.
At the one month follow up, the researchers noticed significant improvements in the abstinence group. Among these were reduced levels of certain proteins that increase when there is stress on the body — such as increased blood flow and oxygen delivery or which are at elevated levels with cancerous tumor growth.
Insulin resistance improved, the authors noted, in that participants were able to produce insulin to match glucose levels at a better rate than the control group who continued to drink.