A large study of more than 340,000 adults has found that the association between alcohol consumption and health outcomes may differ depending on the type of drink consumed.
The research, based on data from 340,924 participants in the UK Biobank, found that heavy drinking was associated with a higher risk of death regardless of the type of alcohol consumed. At lower levels, however, wine showed a different pattern from beer, cider and spirits.
Researchers examined participants' drinking habits and health outcomes between 2006 and 2022, with an average follow-up period of more than 13 years.
Those in the highest alcohol consumption group were 24% more likely to die from any cause than people who reported never drinking or drinking only occasionally. They were also 36% more likely to die from cancer and 14% more likely to die from heart disease.
At low and moderate levels of consumption, the researchers found that spirits, beer and cider were associated with a significantly higher risk of death, while similar levels of wine consumption were associated with a lower risk.
Wine and cardiovascular mortality
The difference was also observed in cardiovascular deaths.
People who drank wine at moderate levels had a 21% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared with those who rarely or never drank. By contrast, even low levels of beer, cider or spirits consumption were associated with a 9% higher risk of cardiovascular death.
The researchers said several factors could potentially explain the differences.
Red wine contains compounds including polyphenols and antioxidants that may have cardiovascular effects. Drinking patterns and broader lifestyle factors may also play a role, as wine is more commonly consumed with meals and is often associated with healthier dietary habits, while beer, cider and spirits were linked in the study with poorer overall diet quality and other lifestyle factors.
However, the researchers stressed that the findings should not be interpreted as proof that wine itself protects against disease.
Researchers highlight study limitations
The study was observational, meaning it can identify associations but cannot establish that a particular type of alcohol directly caused the differences in mortality.
The researchers also relied on participants' self-reported alcohol consumption at the beginning of the study and therefore could not account for changes in drinking habits over time. In addition, UK Biobank participants tend to be healthier than the wider population, which may limit how broadly the findings can be applied.
The study's senior author, Zhangling Chen of China's Second Xiangya Hospital, said the findings help clarify previously mixed evidence surrounding low-to-moderate alcohol consumption.
The researchers said further high-quality research, including randomised trials, would be needed to better establish the health effects of different types and levels of alcohol consumption.
The findings were presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session (ACC.26) and reported by ScienceDaily on August 9.
