Moderate Alcohol Intake May Lower Risk of Hypertension

Moderate alcohol consumption may reduce young women?s risk of developing hypertension, according to data published in the March 2002 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. Researchers gathered data from >70,000 women aged 25 to 42 years who did not report having hypertension at baseline in 1989. After 8 years of follow-up, the researchers found that women who drank approximately 2 to 3 drinks per week had a 15% lower risk of developing hypertension, compared with non-drinkers. However, women who drank heavily (ie, 10 to 12 drinks per week) had a 30% higher risk of developing hypertension, compared with non-drinkers. The protective effect of moderate alcohol consumption was found for beer, wine, and liquor.