The relationships between alcohol, wine and cardiovascular diseases – A review

The relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk of cardiovascular disease has now been studied for over fifty years, and confirmed in multiples case-controlled and cohort studies, and subsequent meta-analyses of these studies. Sound experimental and clinical studies of plausible biological mechanisms support that there is a causal relationship between alcoholic beverages and cardiovascular disease. While beer, wine and spirits all contain alcohol, they are not necessarily equal in their effects on cardiovascular health, such as the incidence and mortality of coronary heart disease, stroke and all-cause mortality. Hence this review evaluates the available evidence, and details the biological mechanisms and attributes a percentage reduction in harm where possible.