Latest scientific news 10 December 2015

Moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages can lower inflammation and thrombosis risk

Moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages (1-2 drinks/day) can improve the lipid profile, positively influence inflammatory markers and thus, may decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women.

American scientists examined whether moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages (1-2 drinks/day) may mediate the alcohol-mediated reduction in cardiovascular risk through its effects on inflammation and hemostasis (*). For this purpose, a well-controlled diet study with 53 postmenopausal women who consumed a weight-maintaining diet plus 0, 15 and 30 g/day of alcohol for 8 weeks, in a randomized crossover design was carried out. The results showed that 15 and 30 g of alcohol had significant beneficial effects on inflammation and hemostasis in postmenopausal women.

(*) Stoppage of bleeding or hemorrhage. It refers also to the stoppage of blood flow through a blood vessel or organ of the body.

Stote KS, Tracy RP, Taylor PR, Baer DJ. The effect of moderate alcohol consumption on biomarkers of inflammation and hemostatic factors in postmenopausal women. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2015 Nov 11. [Epub ahead of print]

For more information about this article, read the scientific abstract here.