A Drink for Your Health? Not so Fast

Thursday, November 06, 2003

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Is drinking alcohol good for your health? There's been mounting evidence that drinking small to moderate amounts of alcohol may offer some health benefits, particularly in improving cardiovascular health and preventing stroke, vascular disease and dementia.

But those results should be viewed with some caution, according to the November issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter. All studies involving alcohol and its impact on health have been observational — meaning they either look back at what's affected the health of a group of people or observe a group over time. Results can be skewed by diet, exercise or other factors. So far, there's no scientifically proven cause and effect between alcohol use and health benefits.

Without stronger evidence, most physicians won't be encouraging people to start drinking alcohol for health reasons. If you drink alcohol, a safe amount depends on your age and gender. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recommends that men who are 65 and younger should have no more than two drinks a day. Women or anyone over age 65 should not have more than one drink a day. The stricter limits for older people reflects the fact that, with age, people process alcohol more slowly.

Carol Lammers
507-284-5005 (days)
507-284-2511(evenings)
email: newsbureau@mayo.edu

Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville
Erik Kaldor
904-953-2299
Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale
Anne Tewksbury
480-301-4368

Mayo Clinic Health Letter is an eight-page monthly newsletter of reliable, accurate and practical information on today's health and medical news. To subscribe, please call toll-free 800-333-9037, extension 9PR1.

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