Beer : Health and Nutrition

134 Chapter Six
the blood pressure in men, regardless of the level of exercise. Nanchahal et al. (2000)
recommend that women should restrict their alcohol intake to less than 14 units per
week to avoid an increase in hypertension.
There is a contrary view. Moline et al. (2000) suggest that there is an inverse relationship
between avonoid levels circulating in the blood and the risk of hypertension.
Indeed 40% of studies show that the blood pressure of non-drinkers is higher than is
the case in those consuming 10–20 g alcohol per day (Keil et al. 1993). Thadhani et al.
(2002) con rm that low to moderate alcohol intake leads to a lesser incidence of hypertension
in women, and this is not related to any particular type of beverage. Truelsen
et al. (1998), however, suggest that wine drinkers fare better than beer drinkers in the
blood pressure stakes.
Strokes represent the third leading cause of death worldwide, after coronary artery
disease and cancer (Suter 1999). There are essentially two types of stroke: blockage
strokes and rupture strokes. The former is akin to a heart attack in the brain and is due to
a blockage in an artery in the brain. A rupture stroke is caused by breakage of a cerebral
blood vessel and resultant increase in pressure in the brain. Alcohol protects against the
former type of stroke exactly as it protects against a heart attack. However, higher levels
of alcohol intake, particularly habitually, increase the risk of a rupture type of stroke.
Potassium, magnesium and bre have been identi ed as signi cant modulators of the
risk for stroke in men, perhaps through both direct and indirect effects on blood pressure
and regulatory functions, such as endothelial function. These nutrients are readily
obtained from a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and, as we saw in Chapter 5, beer is
also a signi cant source of these components.
The biggest risk factor for strokes is hypertension. One report has it that moderate
drinkers (< 60 g alcohol per day) have an equal or slightly increased risk of stroke
compared to non-drinkers (Van Gijn et al. 1993). Other reports claim quite the opposite,
with a reduced risk of stroke for light to moderate drinkers (Gill et al. 1988; Stampfer et
al. 1988a; Gill et al. 1991; Rodgers et al. 1993; Palomaeki & Kaste 1993; Berger et al.
1999; Sacco et al. 1999). Moderate alcohol consumption was shown to protect against
blockages of the chief arteries going to the brain (Bogousslavsky et al. 1990).
Wannamethee and Shaper (1996) stress that heavy drinkers (> 6 drinks per day) run
an increased risk of stroke. Binge drinking is associated with an elevated risk of stroke
(Juvela et al. 1995, Hillbom et al. 1999).
Instances of sudden cardiac death are increased by heavy alcohol consumption
(Wannamathee & Shaper 1992) and reduced with light to moderate drinking (Albert
et al. 1999).