Is the Conventional Wisdom on Alcohol and Stroke Wrong?

A study in China suggests no causal association between moderate intake and lower stroke risk.

Several epidemiologic studies have shown that low to moderate alcohol consumption is associated with decreased risk for cardiovascular (CV) disease, including ischemic stroke. However, the nature of these studies makes establishing a causal connection difficult. In an analysis of residents from China who provided blood samples in the China Kadoorie Biobank, more than 500,000 adults (mean age, 52 years) provided blood samples and medical information during the period 2004–2008 and were followed for 10 years. Investigators recorded CV outcomes (including ischemic stroke, brain hemorrhage, and myocardial infarction) using either health registries or electronic records. In addition, the researchers genotyped 161,498 of the participants for vari…

Reviewing Author

Seemant Chaturvedi, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBayer Pharmaceuticals; Novartis

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Editorial BoardsNeurology; Stroke

Seemant Chaturvedi, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBayer Pharmaceuticals; Novartis

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Editorial BoardsNeurology; Stroke

Is the Conventional Wisdom on Alcohol and Stroke Wrong?

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Reviewing Author