Uncovering flaws, shortcomings, and methodological problems in the high-profile study supposedly showing light alcohol use brought better health, especially among older people
Media coverage of a brand new high-profile study supposedly showing light alcohol use brought better health, especially among older people, was swift and wide spread, and often accompanied by sensational headlines.
But how did several hundred authors publish a study in the pre-eminent medical journal The Lancet lose a million global alcohol deaths and nobody is raising concerns?
In this guest expert blog article, Prof. Tim Stockwell shares his detailed analysis of the famous new study. Prof. Stockwell dug deep into the appendix of the study and what he found is not pretty.
This timely analysis uncovers flaws, shortcomings, and methodological problems that cast doubt about the foundations of the study and its conclusions.
Mendelian Randomization Study challenges concept that low-dose alcohol is cardioprotective
The cardioprotective hypothesis for ‘moderate’ alcohol consumption is plagued by confounding, selection bias and increasingly implausible biological mechanisms, and the scientific pillars on which it is based are not holding up.
The findings of the Mendelian Randomization Study challenge the concept that low-dose alcohol is cardioprotective.
The upshot is that the research literature suggesting cardioprotection is largely based on studies of healthy survivors who have not died from other competing causes.
The evidence is growing stronger and stronger, showing that any amount of alcohol use is bad for cardiovascular health. Even low dose alcohol intake increases health risks such as for the heart, compared to not having alcohol at all.
In their latest policy brief, the World Heart Federation (WHF) establishes the evidence base that no amount of alcohol is good for the heart.
Big Alcohol manufactures doubt about alcohol and heart disease
Given the new and growing scientific evidence proving alcohol’s negative effects on cardiovascular health, it is important to find out what kind of influence the alcohol industry has on research indicating cardio-protective effects of alcohol.
Research literature suggesting cardioprotection is largely based on studies of healthy survivors who have not died from other competing causes.
A brand new research analysis of systematic reviews on cardiovascular disease and alcohol exposed that alcohol industry funding or history of funding skewed the results in favor of alcohol industry interests.
The alcohol industry funds social aspects and public relations organizations to mis-represent the evidence on cardiovascular effects of low dose (“moderate”) alcohol consumption.