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Until today we knew that a glass of wine a day is good for the heart. But there is a strong case that it is aggravating by increasing the risk of atrial fibrillation. See exactly what the researchers observed
A survey of a population of 108,000 people showed that people who drink regularly small amounts of alcohol are at increased risk of atrial fibrillationa heart arrhythmia whose frequency increases with age and which is the most common cause of ischemic stroke.
Research published in the European Heart Journal showed that compared to no alcohol, drinking one alcoholic drink per day was associated with a 16% increased risk of atrial fibrillation during a 14-year follow-up period. According to the researchers, one alcoholic drink contains 12g of ethanol, which corresponds to a small (120ml) glass of wine, a small beer (330ml) or 40ml of strong alcoholic drink.
It is known from research that increased alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of heart failure, and that the cardiovascular risk for those who do not drink alcohol is slightly higher. Therefore, low alcohol consumption is associated with a reduced risk of heart problems, but until now it was not clear what exactly was true in the case of atrial fibrillation.
The current research conducted by professor Renate Schnabel cardiologist at the Cardiovascular Center of the University of Hamburg-Eppendorf, however, it did not show anything similar regarding the consumption of a small amount of alcohol and the risk of atrial fibrillation. The researchers found that although low doses of alcohol were associated with a reduced risk of heart failure, there was no corresponding risk for atrial fibrillation. This suggests that the increased risk of atrial fibrillation in people who drink small amounts of alcohol was not triggered by heart failure.
Simply put, the new research shows according to Professor Schnabel that low daily alcohol consumption may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation. “These findings are important as regular alcohol consumption, the ‘one glass of wine a day’ for heart protection, as often recommended in MSM, should probably no longer be recommended without first balancing the risks and potential benefits for all heart diseases, including atrial fibrillation,” emphasizes the professor.
The researchers analyzed information on 107,845 people who participated in five community-based studies in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Italy. Participants underwent medical examinations when they joined the studies between 1982 and 2010 and provided information about their medical history, lifestyle (including alcohol and tobacco consumption), employment and education level. A total of 100,092 participants were free of atrial fibrillation at enrollment and their mean age was nearly 48 years (participant age range 24–97 years).
During the nearly 14-year follow-up period, 5,854 people developed atrial fibrillation. Associations between alcohol consumption and risk of atrial fibrillation were similar for all types of alcoholic beverages, for men and women.
Except from 16% increased risk of atrial fibrillation for people who consumed only one alcoholic drink per day, compared to those who abstained from alcohol, the researchers found that the risk increased with increasing alcohol intake—up to two drinks a day was associated with a 28% increased risk of atrial fibrillation, and this rose to 47% for those who consumed more than four.
The exact mechanism by which moderate amounts of alcohol could cause atrial fibrillation is not known. Studies have shown that high alcohol consumption in a short period of time can cause heart problems in some people, and in some patients with atrial fibrillation, small amounts of alcohol can cause arrhythmia episodes.
Of course the study was observational and does not prove that moderate alcohol consumption causes atrial fibrillation, but that an association was observed. Perhaps what needs to be explored more is the actual cardiovascular benefit of moderate alcohol consumption.