MADRID .- One, two, three, six glasses of wine a day are ‘healthy’ for the heart. But only for him. I just confirmed that Spanish work finds that moderate consumption, and also the high alcohol decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease in men.

Its principal author, Larraitz Arriola, Department of Public Health, Basque Government, in Guipuzcoa, ELMUNDO.es confirms that “our findings have generated much controversy in Britain after being published in the journal Heart. But the truth is to drink, although higher quantities, protects the heart. This is already evident in previous studies. What is true is that alcohol raises the risk of other diseases such as liver and larynx cancer and liver disease ” .

For this reason, “the article began by noting that alcoholic beverages are the reason for 1.8 million deaths annually worldwide. We, and especially as members of the Department of Public Health do not recommend alcohol consumption. Nor recommended by the World Health Organization. What does this institution is advised that people who drink at least trying to do so in moderation. “

The research, part of the famous European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC), involving 10 European countries has been carried out with 15. 630 men and 25. 808 women between 29 and 69 years who have been made to track a decade.

Both Arriola and his team analyzed the lifestyle of the participants and possible conditions: diet, exercise, snuff consumption, medical history, suffering from hypertension, diabetes or heart problems, among others. Also inquired on the consumption of alcohol throughout the life of the participants.

Rated moderate consumption and the intake of five to 30 grams a day, while it ranked high using 30 to 90 g and very high from 90. A glass of wine contains between 8 and 10 g of ethanol.
No association between women

“One of the novel aspects of the work is that one of the few in which there is separation between abstainers and former drinkers. It is believed that when a person stops drinking is because you have a disease and the doctor recommends abstinence. Indeed, our former drinkers suffer more hypertension and diabetes, as well as increased consumption of anti thrombotic and cardiac medication, “says Dr. Arriola.

The data reveal that men who consumed alcohol in moderation daily, high and very high were 30% less heart disease compared with nondrinkers, after taking into account all factors that could affect the results.

“However, we found that the association between alcohol and cardioprotection in women be given. The reason may be that they suffer heart disease at older ages, when it disappears the protection of estrogen and our study was limited to a population of between 35 and 64 years. Maybe if we could track longer see also this association. ”

This specialist recognizes that his investigation “was cardiovascular protection regardless of type of alcohol ingested. And remember that these drinks reduce the risk of heart disease.