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Half a glass of wine a day 'can help you live five years longer'
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 9:28 AM on 30th April 2009
Half a glass of wine a day can add almost five years to your life, say scientists.
A study of almost 1,400 middle-aged men over a 40-year period found regularly drinking a little of any type of alcohol boosted longevity.
The biggest increase was seen in those who drank half a glass of wine a day, who tended to live about four-and-a-half years longer than those who abstained from alcohol.
But those who drank up to two glasses of wine, two pints of beer or two shots of spirits a day also tended to live about two years longer than non-drinkers.
Men who drank half a glass of wine a day saw the most health benefits
The researchers from Wageningen University in the Netherlands analysed 1,373 Dutch men born between 1900 and 1920.
Drinking, smoking and dietary habits were noted along with body mass index and prevalence of heart attack, stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The study found wine was strongly associated with a lower risk of death from all causes, including stroke and heart disease, over the period of the study, which ended in 2000.
The university’s human nutritionist Dr Martinette Streppel said: 'Those people who already consume alcoholic beverages should do so lightly - one to two glasses per day - and preferably drink wine.
'The cardio-protective effects of alcohol and wine only held up for light alcohol consumption in middle-aged men.
'Heavy alcohol consumption may cause accidents and diseases such as cancer and cirrhosis of the liver, even though this was not observed in our study.
'Since alcohol consumption can be addictive, starting to drink alcohol because of its positive health benefits is not advised.'
The researchers found alcohol intake of less than or equal to 20 grams per day - one glass of alcoholic beverage contains 10 grams of alcohol - compared to no alcohol intake was associated with a 36 percent lower risk of death from all causes.
When the researchers looked independently at wine consumption, the associated risk reduction was greater.
Participants who drank an average of half a glass of wine a day over a long period had a 40 percent overall lower mortality rate and a 48 percent lower incidence of cardiovascular death compared to the non-wine drinkers.
Life expectancy was 3.8 years higher in those men who drank wine compared to those who did not drink alcoholic beverages.
Dr Streppel said: 'Consumption patterns usually change during life. This enabled us to study the effects of long-term alcohol intake on mortality.'
The researchers found the number of alcohol users nearly doubled from 45 percent in 1960 to 85 percent in the 2000 survey.
The percentage of wine users increased during follow-up from two percent in 1960 to more than 40 percent among the survivors in 2000.
Dr Streppel said a protective effect of light alcohol intake could be due to an increase in 'good' cholesterol, or to a reduction in blood clotting.
Furthermore, red wine consumption may have an additional health benefit because the polyphenolic compounds contained in wine have been seen in animals to stop the build up of fatty tissue in the arteries that can result in stroke or heart attack.
Dr Streppel said: 'Our study showed long-term, light alcohol intake among middle-aged men was associated not only with lower cardiovascular and all-cause death risk, but also with longer life expectancy at age fifty.
'Furthermore, long-term light wine consumption is associated with a further protective effect when compared to that of light-to-moderate alcohol intake of other types.
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