TO DRINK OR NOT TO DRINK? MODERATE AMOUNTS OF WINE DISCOVERED TO BOOST IMMUNE SYSTEM

 

Alcohol has been seen from time immemorial as a destructive force in human life, but also as a boon in times of illness.  Roman troops were given wine, for example to ward off fatigue and soothe the nerves. 

New research now indicates that drinking moderately boosts the immune system, whereas excess impairs it. 

The published results are available on the journal Vaccine.    

The study was done on Rhesus Monkeys that were trained to consume alcohol.  One half of the group consumed sugar water, the other half 4% alcohol.  

The experiment lasted for 14 months during which the animals were vaccinated before and during the entire time span of the trial. 

An interesting thing was noticed, that the monkeys followed human patterns of consumption, where some relied on it excessively and some only moderately.  

The 'heavy drinkers' had blood alcohol content around 0.08%, while the moderate ones were around 0,02-0,04%.  

The now three groups, if one considers the subgroup of alcohol consumers, all displayed different immune responses to the vaccinations.

While the heavy drinkers showed an impaired response to the vaccination, compared to the ones who were not given alcohol, the ones that consumed it moderately has an enhanced vaccine response. 

In terms of the ultimate conclusion of the experiment, it appears then, that the consumption of moderate quantities of alcohol acts as an immune booster.   This in turn validates some research that has indicated moderate alcohol consumption as a vascular risk reduction factor. 

Moderate drinking varies between man and women, with women also having a compounded risk of breast cancer in heavy consumption.  For men, moderate consumption is no more than 4 drinks a day, or 14 a week, while for women it is no more than 3 a day and no more than 7 week. 

However, people with known tendencies to alcoholism should not try to avail themselves of alcohol, even if it is to boost the immune response in their bodies.  

The study is also interesting for the elderly population, in that it could prove how moderate consumption could aide in augmenting the response to vaccinations, which is usually reduced in the elderly due to their age. 



Source : MNT/ 12.22.13