Light to moderate alcohol consumption (Half a Glass of Wine a Day) lowers the risk of heart-related death, but it is not clear whether this protective effect depends on the specific type of alcoholic beverage.

In addition, not much is known about the effects of long-term alcohol intake on life expectancy. According to a study published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, drinking up to half a glass of wine a day may increase longevity by 5 years in men.

Researchers from the Netherlands studied 1373 men who were born between 1900 and 1920 in order to determine the effect of long-term alcohol intake and type of alcoholic beverage consumed on cardiovascular death and life expectancy at age fifty. They found that, compared with no alcohol consumption, long-term light alcohol intake averaging less than half a glass daily lowered the risk of death from heart-related causes and all causes and also increased life expectancy by 5 years.

The researchers caution that more studies are needed to verify the strength of the association between wine intake and the risk of death.

Source:
J Epidemiol Community Health. Published Online First 30 April 2009.