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Findings
from two groups of researchers add to the growing evidence
that moderate alcohol consumption can decrease the risk of
stroke in older people.
Researchers
in New York examined the drinking patterns of 3,300 individuals
in the Northern Manhattan Prospective Cohort Study. They found
that moderate alcohol consumption of up to 2 drinks daily
is associated with a decreased risk of ischemic stroke, other
vascular events and death in the elderly. The mean age of
the participants was just over 69 years, and the study did
not draw any conclusions based on the types of alcoholic beverages
consumed.
In presenting
their findings April 16 at the American Academy of Neurology
annual meeting in Denver, the researchers explained that their
work confirmed previously reported results about stroke, but
noted that their findings extended the benefit of alcohol
to mortality as well.
Boston
University researchers looked at the alcohol intake of 5,209
Framingham, Mass. residents and determined that one to two
drinks of wine, but not beer or spirits, had a protective
effect against stroke in participants 60 to 69 years old compared
with non-drinkers. The findings were reported in the April
issue of the journal Stroke.
The researchers
said their finding about wine suggest that substances other
than ethanol may be important in preventing atherosclerosis.
They explained that wine contains phenolic compounds with
antioxidant properties..
In both
studies, a drink was considered to be equivalent to 12 grams
of alcohol.
Source:
Hypertension
Week of April 28, 2002
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