Guidelines Dietary - Eat For Health

studies show that consuming two standard drinks or more per day during lactation is associated with deficits ininfant psychomotor development and disrupted infant sleep-wake behavioural patterns. 857 Although the extentis unknown, a baby’s intake of alcohol from breast milk is not harmless. 857 Alcohol levels in breast milk parallelblood alcohol levels and therefore the longer the time between drinking alcohol and breastfeeding, the safer forthe baby. The safest option for women who are breastfeeding is to abstain from alcohol. 794 For those who drink,expressing milk before consuming alcohol is the next best option. 794Children and adolescentsAlcohol use by younger people is associated with harmful effects on brain development. NHMRC recommendsthat parents and carers should be advised that children under 15 years of age are at the greatest risk of harm fromdrinking. For this age group, not drinking alcohol is especially important. For people aged 15−17 years, the safestoption is to delay drinking for as long as possible. 794Older peopleOlder people are more susceptible than others to the toxic effects of alcohol due to changes in their bodycomposition, decreased metabolic capacity, the presence of co-morbid conditions and medications that regulatethese conditions. 859Many older people take medications that may interact with alcohol. A combination of alcohol and medicationincreases the risk of falls and injury. 860-862Guideline 3The NHMRC Alcohol Guidelines state that ‘cumulative alcohol-related harm is more evident among older people.For some older adults, drinking alcohol increases the risk of falls and injuries, as well as some chronic conditions.Older people are advised to consult their health professionals about the most appropriate level of drinking fortheir health’. 794Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoplesAboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples are more likely than other Australians to abstain from drinking alcohol(23% compared to about 15%). However, those who do consume alcohol are more likely to do so at risky orhigh-risk levels for short-term harm. 854 In response to severe problems related to excess alcohol consumptionin many Indigenous communities, including foetal alcohol syndrome 863,864 initiatives have been introduced toencourage non-harmful alcohol use, limit access to alcohol, and establish ‘dry’ areas and communities. As withthe general population, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should follow the alcohol guidelinesdescribed above. 794People from culturally and linguistically diverse groupsPeople from culturally and linguistically diverse groups are more likely than the general adult population in Australiato abstain from alcohol (43% compared to 15%). 854 The possible protective health effect of moderate drinkinghas not been demonstrated in Asian groups. Alcohol drinking customs vary in different cultures and typicallyimmigrant groups bring their drinking patterns from their country of origin.People with diabetesAs alcohol and hypoglycaemia have independent but additive effects on cognitive function and behaviour, it isrecommended that people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes abstain from alcohol if they plan to drive. 865 Alcoholworsens medical conditions associated with diabetes, such as liver disease, hypertension and advancedneuropathy. 850,866 People with type 1 or type 2 diabetes may need to take special precautions when drinkingand should discuss alcohol use with a health professional.Interaction of alcohol with caffeine and other stimulantsA new category of alcoholic drinks is now available in Australia that have added caffeine and/or other stimulants.There is concern that consuming stimulants such as caffeine, a central nervous system stimulant, and alcohol, adepressant, at the same time will reduce subjective perceptions of alcohol-induced impairment in comparisonto alcohol alone. 867-870In the absence of any long-term research to quantify safe levels of concurrent consumption of alcohol and addedstimulants, this combination should be used with caution.84EAT FOR HEALTH – australian dietary guidelinesNational Health and Medical Research Council