Alcohol consumption and the risk of coronary heart disease

Especially in the Western world consumption of alcohol is an accepted conduct in society. Health damage can occur even before any addiction to alcohol. Many injuries or diseases are related to alcohol consumption. Even though alcohol has some beneficial health effects like reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes, ischaemic heart disease or stroke in case of light to moderate consumption, the association with diseases of the cardiovascular system, ischemic heart disease, obesity and metabolic syndrome or cancer prevails. The main cause of a reduced coronary heart disease risk is an increased high-density lipoprotein-level in the blood. A significantly decreased risk for coronary heart disease among women with an alcohol intake of up to 60 g/day and among men with an alcohol intake of up to 90 g/day was found. This beneficial effect however should not be seen from an isolated point of view but in relation to a higher morbidity and mortality rate.