The association of moderate alcohol consumption with specific disorders, including heart disease and cancers, has been well documented. The evidence of the broader impact of alcohol consumption on health-related quality of life is less clear.
In a new study, scientists aimed to examine the association of drinking patterns with changes in physical and mental well-being across populations.
They found that change in moderate alcohol consumption may lead to health-related quality of life for women, especially their mental-wellbeing.
Dr. Michael Ni, School of Public Health and The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, University of Hong Kong (HKU) said, “More evidence suggests caution in recommending moderate drinking as part of a healthy diet.”
Scientists included 10 386 people for the study from the FAMILY Cohort in Hong Kong who were nondrinkers or moderate drinkers between 2009 and 2013. They then compared their findings with data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, a representative survey of 31,079 people conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in the United States.
The mean age of members in the FAMILY Cohort was 49 years, and 56% were women. About 64% of men were nondrinkers and almost 88% of ladies were nondrinkers. People who were lifetime abstainers had the most elevated amount of mental prosperity toward the beginning of the examination.
For women who were moderate drinkers and stopped drinking, quitting was connected to an ideal change in mental prosperity in both Chinese and American study populaces. These outcomes were clear subsequent to modifying for sociodemographic attributes, body mass index, smoking status, and different elements.
Dr. Michael Ni said, “Global alcohol consumption is expected to continue to increase unless effective strategies are employed. Our findings suggest caution in recommendations that moderate drinking could improve health-related quality of life. Instead, quitting drinking may be associated with a more favorable change in mental well-being, approaching the level of lifetime abstainers.”
The study, The study was carried out by Dr. Xiaoxin Yao, Dr. Michael Ni, Dr. Herbert Pang and colleagues at HKU and is published in the CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).