Drinking a little alcohol every day, especially wine, may be associated with an increase in life expectancy, new research suggests.

Dutch researchers have found that a light intake of alcohol (about half a glass per day) was associated with a lower rate of cardiovascular death as well as death from all causes. When compared to spirits and beer, consumption of small amounts of wine was associated with the lowest levels of all-cause and cardiovascular deaths.

"Our study showed that 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 50," said Dr Martinette T. Streppel, lead author of the study. "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."

The researchers found that long-term, light alcohol intake was associated with a 36 per cent lower relative risk of all-cause death and a 34 per cent lower relative risk of cardiovascular death. Participants who drank on average half a glass of wine per day, over a long period, had a 40 per cent lower rate of all-cause death and a 48 per cent lower incidence of cardiovascular death, compared to the non-wine drinkers.

Researchers said life expectancy was 3.8 years higher in those men who drank wine compared to those who did not drink alcoholic beverages, and two years higher than users of other alcoholic beverages.

"One can speculate that a protective effect of light alcohol intake could be due to an increase in high-density lipoprotein (“good”) cholesterol, or to a reduction in blood clotting, due to an inhibition of platelet aggregation," Streppel said.

Furthermore, red wine consumption may have an additional health benefit because the polyphenolic compounds contained in wine have been seen to interfere with the formation, progression and rupture of atherosclerotic plaques — the build-up of fatty tissue in the arteries that can result in stroke or heart attack.

"Those people who already consume alcoholic beverages should do so lightly (1 to 2 glasses per day) and preferably drink wine," Streppel said.
He added that 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. Furthermore, since alcohol consumption can be addictive, starting to drink alcohol because of its positive health benefits is not advised.

Previous studies have also shown that light to moderate alcohol intake is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular death.