From the Guidelines
Alcohol consumption is harmful to health, and the safest approach is to avoid it entirely, but if you choose to drink, limit consumption to no more than 1-2 standard drinks per day with several alcohol-free days weekly. The risks associated with alcohol consumption increase based on how much and how often you drink, with even moderate drinking (1-2 drinks daily) carrying some health risks, while heavy drinking significantly damages the liver, heart, brain, and immune system 1.
Health Risks Associated with Alcohol Consumption
- Liver diseases like fatty liver, hepatitis, and cirrhosis
- Increased risk of heart problems including high blood pressure and stroke
- Impaired brain function leading to memory issues and cognitive decline
- Linked to several cancers including mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and breast cancer
- Weakens the immune system, disrupts sleep, contributes to mental health problems, and can lead to addiction
Recommendations for Alcohol Consumption
- Limit consumption to no more than 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women, and ideally consume with meals 1
- Consider avoiding alcohol entirely if you have certain health conditions, take medications that interact with alcohol, are pregnant, or have a personal or family history of addiction
- Be aware that moderate alcohol intake has been associated with reduced cardiovascular events in many populations, but this association is not a reason to start drinking or increase consumption 1
Key Considerations
- Alcohol can be addictive, and high intake can be associated with serious adverse health and social consequences, including hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension, liver damage, physical abuse, vehicular and work accidents, and increased risk of breast cancer 1
- The American Heart Association recommends limiting alcohol consumption to no more than 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women, and ideally consuming with meals 1
From the Research
Health Risks Associated with Alcohol Consumption
- Alcohol consumption is associated with chronic diseases, including liver disease, pancreatitis, dementia, and various types of cancer 2
- Chronic heavy alcohol consumption and alcohol abuse can lead to alcohol-use disorder, resulting in physical and mental diseases 2
- Risk factors for alcohol-use disorder are largely unknown, but frequent heavy drinking has detrimental effects on personal health 2
Effects of Moderate Alcohol Consumption
- Light and moderate alcohol consumption (up to 14 g per day for women and up to 28 g per day for men) may be associated with reduced mortality risk, mainly due to reduced risks for cardiovascular disease and type-2 diabetes 2
Treatment of Alcohol Dependence
- Disulfiram and naltrexone are two FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of alcohol dependence, and have been shown to be effective in reducing craving and preventing relapse 3, 4, 5
- Acamprosate is also an FDA-approved medication for the treatment of alcohol dependence, and has been shown to be effective in reducing drinking outcomes 5
- Anticonvulsants, such as baclofen, are being studied as potential treatments for alcohol use disorder, but are not yet FDA-approved for this indication 6
Comparison of Treatment Options
- Disulfiram and naltrexone have been compared in several studies, with disulfiram showing superior efficacy in reducing heavy drinking days and increasing abstinent days 4, 5
- Naltrexone has been shown to be better tolerated than disulfiram, but disulfiram has been shown to have better treatment retention rates 4