Drinking small amounts of alcohol may not help you live longer

BOSTON — Drinking small amounts of alcohol a day may not help you live longer.

The data is conflicting on whether drinking alcohol in moderation might be good for your heart and overall health, but this most recent analysis suggests that’s not the case.

Researchers reviewed 107 previous studies involving nearly 5 million participants and found no significant reduction in mortality among drinkers who consumed less than 25 grams of alcohol per day, or just under two standard drinks per day. day. And they found a significantly higher risk of death in women who drank 25 grams or more of alcohol per day and men who drank 45 grams or more per day.

Researchers say moderate drinkers tend to be healthier than people who abstain from alcohol, based on exercise, diet, weight, dental hygiene and income. which may give the impression that light to moderate consumption may provide a longevity benefit when this is really not the case.

Mallika Marshall, MD

Mallika Marshall, MD is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and physician who served as a HealthWatch reporter for CBS Boston/WBZ-TV for over 20 years. Board-certified medical practitioner in internal medicine and pediatrics, Dr. Marshall is on staff at Harvard Medical School and practices at Massachusetts General Hospital at MGH Chelsea Urgent Care and MGH Revere Health Center, where she currently works on primary care. for patients with COVID-19. She is also a moderator and editor for Harvard Health Publications (HHP), the publishing division of Harvard Medical School.