In a new study that challenges previous notions about the potential health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption, researchers have found that even as little as one alcoholic drink a day can increase systolic blood pressure, the top number in a blood pressure reading.
The impact on blood pressure appears to be more significant in people with a trend towards increased readings, suggesting that those at risk of hypertension may benefit the most from limiting or avoiding alcohol intake.
The study, published in the journal Hypertension, followed over 19,000 adults from age 20 to about 70 who had no prior diagnoses of alcoholism, binge drinking, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or liver disease.
The researchers analyzed data from seven studies conducted in Japan, South Korea, and the United States between 1997 and 2021.
Dr Marco Vinceti, senior study author and a professor of epidemiology and public health at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in Italy, emphasized the findings: “We found no beneficial effects in adults who drank a low level of alcohol compared to those who did not drink alcohol.” He further added, “Limiting alcohol intake is advised, and avoiding it is even better.”
The impact of alcohol on systolic blood pressure was found to be more pronounced over time, even in individuals who consumed small amounts each day. Drinking an average of 12 grams of alcohol per day, which is less than one standard US drink, resulted in a small rise in systolic pressure of 1.25 mm Hg over five years. On the other hand, those who consumed an average of 48 grams of alcohol per day, nearly 3.5 standard US drinks, experienced a rise of nearly 5 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure over the same period.
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Dr Paul Whelton, study coauthor and chair in global public health at Tulane University’s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, highlighted the significance of systolic blood pressure as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease: “Both systolic and diastolic readings contribute to cardiovascular risk and go hand in hand but of the two, systolic blood pressure is definitely the most important risk factor in adults.”
The concept that excessive alcohol consumption raises blood pressure has been long recognized, but this study sheds light on the impact of even relatively low alcohol levels. Dr Andrew Freeman, director of cardiovascular prevention and wellness at National Jewish Health, said, “So, to me, this is yet another study showing there may not be any safe amount of alcohol.”
The study also revealed that small amounts of alcohol raised the lower, or diastolic blood pressure reading, but only in men. The researchers translated participants’ alcohol intake into grams to account for differences between countries in defining a “standard drink.” The World Health Organization sets the standard at 10 grams of alcohol per drink, while the US defines it as 14 grams.
It is essential to note that past research on alcohol’s potential benefits for the heart often compared light drinkers with heavy drinkers, but not to those who abstained from alcohol altogether. This leaves room for varying opinions on alcohol’s cardiovascular effects.
Dr Freeman remarked on the challenges of studying alcohol use, given its association with both helpful and unhelpful behaviours: “It can be hard to tease out these associations.” He advised his patients to follow the guidelines set by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) – limit alcohol consumption, maintain healthy behaviours like exercise and stress reduction, and avoid smoking and secondhand smoke exposure.
While some areas of the world with exceptionally long-living populations, known as “blue zones,” have diets that include small amounts of alcohol consumed routinely with dinner, experts remain cautious about attributing longevity solely to alcohol intake. Socialization and tight-knit communities in these regions may also play a significant role.
