Scientists from Intermountain Healthcare found that alcohol consumption does not provide additional heart benefits in cardiology patients already being treated with statins—the most commonly used drugs to lower cholesterol.
The research was presented at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions and was conducted by Jeffrey L. Anderson et al.
Previously, some observational studies have linked drinking alcohol, such as red wine, with reducing the risk of coronary heart disease.
However, this study failed to show any added benefit for patients taking statins to control their cholesterol.
The researchers examined how alcohol affected specific groups of heart patients, including those without prior known heart disease (primary prevention group) and those with known heart disease (secondary prevention group), and those taking and not taking statins in these two groups.
These patients were also asked if they used alcohol as part of a comprehensive survey of personal lifestyle and other health habits.
Of the alcohol drinkers, 416 were on statins and 164 were not. Of the non-drinkers, 313 were on statins and 808 were not.
The team then looked at how many patients in each category experienced a major adverse cardiac event (MACE), such as a heart attack or stroke, within the next four years.
While they did see some protective heart benefits for patients not on a statin in the primary prevention group, they also found that it didn’t help those statin-taking patients in either the primary or secondary prevention groups.
The team says these findings are important, because of conflicting views on alcohol use, especially in light of both higher rates of alcohol abuse during the COVID pandemic.
It also suggests that the supposed benefits of alcohol consumption may be explained by other healthy lifestyle factors that are common among light to moderate drinkers.
The team added that larger and more in-depth studies will further clarify the possible links between drinking alcohol, the amount and type of alcohol consumption, and heart health.
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If you care about heart health, please read studies about how to control your cholesterol to prevent heart attacks and strokes, and how to reverse heart failure with diet.
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