to non-drinkers. It is thought that the amount of
Resveratrol in 2-3 glasses of red wine helps to starve
cancer cells by blocking a key protein that feeds them.
France has relatively low rates of stomach and colon
cancer and the second-lowest world incidence of heart
disease after Japan. However, drinking more can lead
to a greater risk of cancer.
Data from the third National Health and Nutri-
tion Examination Survey Study (NHANES III) in
1999 showed that regular alcohol intakes lowered the
risk forgallstonesby 25% in both men and women.
PrecautionsIndividuals involved with activities that require
attention, skill, or coordination, such as driving or
operating machinery, should avoid alcoholic beverages.
Alcohol has a depressant effect on the central nervous
system and slows down brain function, which can affect
judgment and emotions as well as behaviour.
The 2005 Centers for Disease Control and Pre-
vention (CDC) guidelines advise women who may
become pregnant or are pregnant not to drink. Mod-
erate drinking during pregnancy may result in behav-
ioural or neuro-cognitive problems in children.
There is conflicting advise on moderate alcohol or
no alcohol with breast feeding. The American Acad-
emy of Paediatricians still recommends avoiding alco-
hol while breast-feeding. Alcohol can be passed on to
the baby through the milk, which can affect the baby’s
feeding, sleeping or digestion. Heavy alcohol intakes
have also been shown to reduce lactation. The
National Childbirth Trust and the Association of
Breastfeeding Mothers in UK advocate similar advice.
The recommendation is to allow sufficient time
between drinking and breast-feeding so the mother
can fully metabolise the alcohol.
Individuals taking prescription and over the coun-
ter medications also need to be aware of the potential
interactions any of their medications may have with
alcohol and should consult a doctor.
RisksHigher intakes of alcohol drinking levels seem to
offset the benefits of moderate drinking on CHD, by
increasing risk of death from many other diseases.
Excessive intake of any kind of alcohol increases
the risk of cancer of the mouth, oesophagus, stomach,
liver, breast and colon. The Cancer Prevention Study
in 2002 found that one drink or less in postmenopausal
women increased the risk of death from breast cancer
by 30%. They did not find an increased risk in pre-
menopausal women.
Excessive alcohol can increase blood pressure,
which increases the risk for CHD. Cutting back to
moderate drinking can lower systolic blood pressure
by up to 10mmHg.
According to a US study published in 2005, older
men who drink more than the daily recommendations
of alcohol may be more likely to suffer from a stroke.
Triglyceridesare a type of fat found in food. High
levels in the blood are associated with an increased risk
if CHD and the liver make more triglycerides with
excess alcohol, sugar and calories.
The risk of cirrhosis seems connected more with
alcohol abuse than moderate use. Excessive drinkers
will develop fatty liver, the first stage of alcoholic liver
disease, but this can disappear when alcohol is reduced
to moderate levels. Continued excessive alcohol can
lead to alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis and liver failure.
Heavy alcohol use for 10 years or more is the usual
cause of Chronic Pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis with
severe abdominal pain can occur before this and will
settle if drinking is discontinued.Research and general acceptanceThere has never been a controlled clinical trial
testing the effect of alcohol, but there is agreement
that while drinking too much of any kind of alcohol
is not healthy, moderate alcohol intakes may have
some health benefits. As such, a number of medical
associations including the European Society of Cardi-
ology, The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism, American Dietetic Association, Ameri-
can Heart Association, Royal College of Physicians,
and British Heart Foundation have the recommenda-
tion for alcohol as ‘‘If you use alcohol, do so in mod-
eration’’. Recommendation on how many drinks per
day equate moderation differs from country to coun-
try. In the United States, moderation is defined as up
to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks
per day for men. In the United Kingdom, moderation
is defined as not exceeding 2–3 units for women and 3–
4 units for men. There is also agreement that the
evidence is not convincing enough to make a recom-
mendation to start drinking alcohol if teetotal.
However, Dr Malcolm law and Nicholas Wald,
British specialists in preventive medicine at St. Bartho-
lomew’s and the Royal London School of Medicine
and Dentistry and Dr. Marion Nestle, chairwoman of
the department of nutrition at New York University,
have put forward another explanation for the FrenchFrench paradox