just-drinks authors and correspondents

Columns by International Scientific Forum on Alcohol Research

Critiques from the International Scientific Forum on Alcohol Research

The International Scientific Forum on Alcohol Research hosts forums that look at research conducted around the world on the relationship between alcohol consumption and health.

Articles by International Scientific Forum on Alcohol Research

Does light drinking increase the risk of cancer? - International Scientific Forum on Alcohol Research Critique 200 12 June 2017

The association between the consumption of alcohol and the risk of cancer has been of great interest for many decades. There are a number of types of cancer, especially those of the upper aero-digestive tract (such as mouth, tongue, pharynx, etc.) that are clearly increased among heavy drinkers, especially among subjects who are also heavy smokers.

---

Does socio-economic status increase risks from alcohol consumption? - International Scientific Forum on Alcohol Research Critique 199 30 May 2017

The positive and negative health effects of alcohol consumption are modified by the socio-economic status (SES) of individuals. Truly moderate drinkers who are from higher SES strata have better health outcomes and fewer adverse effects from alcohol than lower-SES subjects supposedly consuming similar amounts.

---

How does alcohol affect the likelihood of cardiovascular disease? - International Scientific Forum on Alcohol Research Critique 198 25 April 2017

Members of the ISFAR recently considered an important critique of nearly 2m people, which confirmed the J-shaped association of moderate alcohol consumption with significantly less heart disease than among both non-drinkers and heavy drinkers.

---

Does alcohol accelerate the onset of dementia? - International Scientific Forum on Alcohol Research Critique 197 24 April 2017

A number of epidemiologic studies have found that light-to-moderate alcohol intake is associated with a lower risk of developing dementia and/or cognitive decline, while excessive drinking may increase the risk.

---

The strong links between binge drinking and cardiovascular disease - International Scientific Forum on Alcohol Research Critique 196 6 February 2017

The ISFAR recently considered a review paper on the effects of binge drinking on the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), noting that it provides considerable information on a topic of importance to public health.

---

How much of alcohol's "health benefits" relate to a consumer's socio-economic status? - International Scientific Forum on Alcohol Research Critique 195 19 December 2016

It has long been recognised from epidemiologic studies that both the positive and negative health effects of alcohol consumption are modified by an individual's socio-economic status (SES). Higher SES subjects (higher education, income, job status, etc.) are more likely to be regular moderate drinkers, while lower SES subjects are more likely to binge drink and under-report their alcohol intake.

---

What is the effect of long-term alcohol use on mortality among women? - International Scientific Forum on Alcohol Research Critique 194 23 November 2016

In a follow-up analysis of almost 50,000 young women, aged 30 to 49 at baseline, in the Swedish Women’s Lifestyle and Health cohort, researchers used self-reported information on alcohol consumption on two occasions, 12 years apart, to estimate the effects of alcohol on overall and cause-specific mortality.

---

How likely can alcohol consumption bring on a stroke? - International Scientific Forum on Alcohol Research Critique 193 1 November 2016

Data from epidemiologic studies that looks at the relationship between alcohol consumption and the different types of stroke is quite consistent: For ischemic stroke, an inverse association with moderate drinking and a possible increase with heavy drinking (a j-shaped curve); For hemorrhagic stroke, a direct positive association, although some studies suggest that there may be a threshold level for an increase in risk.

---

How great is the risk of prostate cancer from alcohol consumption? - International Scientific Forum on Alcohol Research Critique 192 12 September 2016

Scientific research on the association of alcohol consumption with the risk of prostate cancer has been mixed.

---

A step forward in the research of alcohol's effects on health and disease? - International Scientific Forum on Alcohol Research Critique 191 25 August 2016

Observational epidemiologic studies relating alcohol consumption to health and disease have been remarkably consistent over many decades: light to moderate alcohol intake is related to improved cardiovascular health and less diabetes, while heavy intake and binge drinking relate primarily to adverse cardiovascular and other disease outcomes.