Skip to content

Beer

What is beer?

Beer is an alcoholic beverage that can be used to prevent diseases of the heart and circulatory system including coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, heart failure, heart attack and stroke. It is also used to reduce the risk of death from heart attack and a heart disease known as left ventricular dysfunction. Beer is also used to help prevent decline in thinking function, Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis, gallstones, type 2 diabetes, heart disease in people suffering from type 2 diabetes, kidney stones, prostate cancer, breast cancer, other cancers and Helicobacter pylori infections. Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that causes stomach ulcers. Some people use beer to stimulate appetite and digestion and to increase the flow of breast milk.

How does beer work?

It is believed that beer may help prevent heart disease by increasing levels of the "good" HDL cholesterol. In addition, the vitamin B6 contained in beer can help to lower homocysteine levels. Homocysteine is a chemical that is considered to be one of the risk factors for heart disease.

How effective is beer?

Beer is likely to be effective when it comes to the following applications

  • Preventing diseases of the heart and circulatory system such as heart attack, stroke, atherosclerosis and chest pain (angina). There is some evidence that consuming one alcoholic drink per day for at least 3 to 4 days per week is a good rule of thumb for people who drink alcohol. However, you should not drink more than two alcoholic drinks per day. More than two alcoholic drinks per day can increase the overall risk of death, as well as the risk of dying from heart disease. Scientists have found the following:

    • Consumption of alcoholic beverages, including beer, by healthy people appears to reduce the risk of developing heart disease. Light to moderate alcohol consumption (one to two drinks per day) reduces the risk of coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis and heart attack by 30 to 50% compared to people who do not drink alcohol.
    • Light to moderate alcohol consumption (one to two drinks a day) reduces the risk of a stroke caused by a clot in the blood vessels (ischemic stroke), but increases the risk of a stroke caused by a burst blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke).
    • Light to moderate alcohol consumption (one to two drinks per day) in the year before the first heart attack is associated with a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease and overall risk of death compared to people who do not drink alcohol.
    • In men who already have coronary heart disease, consumption of 1 to 14 alcoholic drinks per week, including beer, appears to have no effect on heart disease or overall mortality risk compared to men who drink less than one alcoholic drink per week. The consumption of three or more alcoholic drinks per day is associated with a higher risk of death in men who have already suffered one or more heart attacks.

  • Reducing the risk of dying from heart disease, stroke or other causes: There is evidence that light to moderate alcohol consumption can reduce the overall risk of death in people in middle age or older.

Beer may be effective in the following applications

  • Preventing heart failure: There is evidence that consuming one to four alcoholic drinks per day reduces the risk of heart failure in people aged 65 and over.

  • Prevention of type 2 diabetes and heart disease in people who suffer from diabetes: People who consume alcohol in moderate amounts appear to have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. People who suffer from diabetes and consume alcohol in moderate amounts appear to have a reduced risk of coronary heart disease compared to diabetics who do not drink alcohol. The reduction in risk is similar to the risk found in healthy people who consume alcohol in low to moderate amounts.

  • Maintaining thinking ability with increasing age. Older men who have had one alcoholic drink per day in the past appear to maintain better overall thinking ability in their late seventies and eighties compared to people who have not consumed alcohol. Consuming more than four alcoholic drinks per day in middle age, on the other hand, appears to be associated with significantly lower thinking ability in old age.

  • Preventing stomach ulcers caused by a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori: There is evidence that moderate to high alcohol consumption (more than 75 grams of pure alcohol) per week in the form of beverages such as beer and wine may reduce the risk of Helicobacter Pylori infection.

    • Reducing the risk of dying from cancer: Although the consumption of wine has been associated with a reduction in the risk of death from cancer, beer does not appear to have such an effect. In fact, there is evidence that drinking beer may slightly increase the risk of cancer-related death. There is evidence that consuming one or more alcoholic beverages may increase the likelihood of dying from breast cancer.

  • Preventing Alzheimer's disease: There is growing evidence to suggest that one or two alcoholic drinks a day may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease in men and women compared to people who do not consume alcohol.

  • Anxiety: The effects of alcohol on anxiety are complicated and may be influenced by the psychological state of the user. Alcohol can sometimes reduce anxiety, sometimes make it worse and in other cases has no effect.

  • Osteoporosis: There is increasing evidence to suggest that moderate alcohol consumption is associated with stronger bones in post-menopausal women. Alcohol consumption in the range of half to one alcoholic drink per day appears to have the strongest effect on bone strength compared to no alcohol and high alcohol consumption.

  • Prevention of prostate cancer

  • Prevention of breast cancer

  • Prevention of gallstones

  • Prevention of kidney stones

  • Stimulating appetite and digestion

Beer may be ineffective when it comes to the following applications

There is not enough scientific data to evaluate the effectiveness of beer in the following areas of use:

Further scientific research is needed to assess the effectiveness of beer for these uses.

Safety and side effects

Beer appears to be safe and harmless for most quantities when consumed in moderation. Moderate consumption means 750ml or less of beer per day. Consuming more than this amount of beer at one time can cause numerous side effects such as flushing, confusion, difficulty controlling emotions, blackouts, loss of coordination, seizures, dizziness, lightheadedness, difficulty breathing, hypothermia, low blood sugar levels, vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding, irregular heartbeat and others.

Long-term use of alcohol can lead to alcohol dependence and many serious side effects such as malnutrition, memory loss, mental problems, heart problems, liver failure, inflammation of the pancreas, cancer of the digestive tract and others.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Alcohol is not safe and harmless during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It can seriously harm the unborn child and cause malformations. Alcohol consumption - especially during the first two months of pregnancy - is associated with an increased risk of miscarriage, fetal alcohol syndrome and behavioral problems after birth. For all these reasons, pregnant women should not drink alcohol.

Breastfeeding women should also avoid alcohol. Alcohol can pass into breast milk and cause abnormal development of skills that include both mental and muscular coordination. In addition, alcohol can disrupt the sleep patterns of infants. Although the opposite is often heard, alcohol appears to reduce milk production.

Asthma: There are reports of occasional asthma attacks caused by the consumption of beer.

Gout: Alcohol consumption can aggravate gout.

Heart disease: Although there is some evidence that moderate beer consumption may help prevent heart failure, beer is harmful to people who already have heart failure. Drinking alcohol can make chest pain and existing heart failure worse.

High blood pressure: Drinking three or more alcoholic drinks a day can increase blood pressure and aggravate high blood pressure.

  • High triglyceride levels: Drinking alcohol can worsen blood lipid levels.
  • Sleep problems (insomnia): Consuming alcohol can worsen sleep problems.
  • Liver diseases: Alcohol consumption can aggravate liver diseases.
  • Neurological disorders: The consumption of alcohol can aggravate certain disorders of the nervous system.
  • Pancreatitis: Alcohol consumption can aggravate pancreatitis.
  • Stomach ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease: Alcohol consumption can aggravate these conditions.
  • Porphyria: Alcohol can aggravate porphyria.
  • Mental problems: Consuming three or more alcoholic drinks per day can aggravate mental problems.
  • Surgeries: Beer can slow down the functioning of the central nervous system. There are concerns that combining beer with anesthetics and other medications used during or after surgery may slow central nervous system function too much. For this reason, beer should be avoided during the last 2 weeks before surgery.

Interactions

Beer should not be combined with the following medications

Medications that can damage the liver

The alcohol contained in beer can damage the liver. A combination of beer and medicines that can damage the liver can increase the risk of liver damage.

Sedatives (CNS suppressants, barbiturates, benzodiazepines)

The alcohol contained in beer can cause drowsiness and dizziness. Drugs that cause drowsiness and dizziness are known as sedatives. A combination of sedatives with alcohol could cause excessive drowsiness and serious side effects.

Care should be taken when combining alcohol with the following medications

Antibiotics (sulphonamide antibiotics)

The alcohol contained in beer can interact with some antibiotics. This can lead to stomach problems, vomiting, sweating, headaches and an accelerated heart rate. For this reason, you should not drink alcohol if you are taking antibiotics.

Aspirin

Aspirin can potentially damage the stomach and cause stomach ulcers and stomach bleeding. The alcohol contained in beer can also damage the stomach. A combination of aspirin and alcohol could increase the risk of stomach ulcers and stomach bleeding.

Cefamandol

The alcohol contained in beer can interact with cefamandol. This can lead to stomach discomfort, vomiting, sweating, headaches and accelerated heart rate.

Cefoperazone

The alcohol contained in beer can interact with cefoperazone. This can lead to stomach discomfort, vomiting, sweating, headaches and accelerated heart rate.

Chlorpropamide

The body breaks down alcohol to get rid of it. Chlorpropamide may slow down the rate at which the body breaks down alcohol. A combination of alcohol and chlorpropamide can cause headaches, vomiting, flushing and other unpleasant reactions.

Cisapride

The body breaks down alcohol to get rid of it. Cisapride may reduce the rate at which the body breaks down alcohol. A combination of alcohol and cisapride could increase the effects and side effects of alcohol.

Painkillers (narcotic drugs)

The body breaks down some drugs in order to be able to excrete them. The alcohol contained in beer could reduce the rate at which the body breaks down some painkillers. Combining beer with these drugs could increase the effects and side effects of painkillers.

Medications that reduce stomach acid (H2 blockers)

Some medications that reduce stomach acid can interact with the alcohol contained in beer. Combining beer with such medications could increase the amount of alcohol absorbed by the body and thus increase the risk of alcohol-related side effects.

Metronidazole

The alcohol contained in beer can interact with metronidazole. A combination of alcohol with metronidazole can lead to stomach discomfort, vomiting, sweating, headaches and accelerated heart rate.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are medications used to reduce pain and swelling. In some cases, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can damage the stomach and organs of the digestive tract and cause stomach ulcers and bleeding. The alcohol contained in beer can also damage the stomach and digestive organs. A combination of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and alcohol could increase the risk of stomach ulcers and stomach bleeding.

Tolbutamide

The body breaks down alcohol to get rid of it. Tolbutamide can reduce the rate at which the body breaks down alcohol. Combining alcohol with tolbutamide can cause throbbing headaches, vomiting, flushing and other unpleasant reactions.

"Dosages" used

Alcohol consumption is often measured by the number of alcoholic drinks. One drink corresponds to 120 ml of wine, or 350 ml of beer or 30 ml of high-proof alcoholic beverages.

The following "dosages" have been used in scientific studies:

  • To reduce the risk of developing heart disease or a stroke: one or two 350 ml beers.
  • To reduce the risk of developing heart failure: up to four glasses of beer per day.
  • To reduce the risk of mental impairment in older men: up to one alcoholic drink per day.
  • To reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in healthy men: Two drinks per week to three drinks per day.
  • To reduce the risk of developing coronary heart disease in diabetics. Up to seven drinks per week.
  • To reduce the risk of Helicobacter pylori infection: 75 grams of pure alcohol in the form of drinks such as beer. Helicobacter pylori bacteria cause stomach ulcers.

References

  1. Abramson JL, Williams SA, Krumholz HM, Vaccarino V. Moderate alcohol consumption and risk of heart failure among older persons. JAMA 2001;285:1971-7.
  2. Ajani UA, Gaziano JM, Lotufo PA, et al. Alcohol consumption and risk of coronary heart disease by diabetes status. Circulation 2000;102:500-5.
  3. Ajani UA, Hennekens CH, Spelsberg, A, et al. Alcohol consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus among US male physicians. Arch Intern Med 2000;160:1025-30.
  4. Arimoto-Kobayashi S, Sugiyama C, Harada N, et al. Inhibitory effects of beer and other alcoholic beverages on mutagenesis and DNA adduct formation induced by several carcinogens. J Agri Food Chem 1999;47:221-30.
  5. Baer DJ, Judd JT, Clevidence BA, et al. Moderate alcohol consumption lowers risk factors for cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women fed a controlled diet. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;75:593-9.
  6. Berger K, Ajani UA, Kase CS, et al. Light-to-moderate alcohol consumption and risk of stroke among US male physicians. N Engl J Med 1999;341:1557-64.
  7. Bobak M, Skodova Z, Marmot M. Beer and obesity: a cross-sectional study. Eur J Clin Nutr 2003;57:1250-53.
  8. Boffetta P, Garfinkel L. Alcohol drinking and mortality among men enrolled in an American Cancer Society prospective study. Epidemiology 1990;1:342-8.
  9. Bosetti C, La Vecchia C, Negri E, Franceschi S. Wine and other types of alcoholic beverages and the risk of esophageal cancer. Eur J Clin Nutr 2000;54:918-20.
  10. Brenner H, Rothenbacher D, Bode G, Adler G. Relation of smoking and alcohol and coffee consumption to active Helicobacter pylori infection: cross sectional study. BMJ 1997;315:1489-92.
  11. Burnham TH, ed. Drug Facts and Comparisons, Updated Monthly. Facts and Comparisons, St. Louis, MO.
  12. Camargo CA, Stampfer MJ, Glynn RJ, et al. Moderate alcohol consumption and risk for angina pectoris or myocardial infarction in U.S. male physicians. Ann Intern Med 1997;126:372-5.
  13. Cervilla JA, Prince M, Joels S, et al. Long-term predictors of cognitive outcome in a cohort of older people with hypertension. Br J Psychiatry 2000;177:66-71.
  14. Colgate EC, Miranda CL, Stevens JF, et al. Xanthohumol, a prenylflavonoid derived from hops induces apoptosis and inhibits NF-kappaB activation in prostate epithelial cells. Cancer Lett 2007;246:201-9.
  15. Criqui MH. Alcohol and coronary heart disease: consistent relationship and public health implications. Clin Chim Acta 1996;246:51-7.
  16. de Boer MC, Schippers GM, van der Staak CP. Alcohol and social anxiety in women and men: pharmacological and expectancy effects. Addict Behav 1993;18:117-26.
  17. Di Castelnuovo A, Rotondo S, Iacoviello L, et al. Meta-analysis of wine and beer consumption in relation to vascular risk. Circulation 2002;105:2836-44.
  18. Dufour MC. If you drink alcoholic beverages do so in moderation: what does this mean? J Nutr 2001;131:552S-61S.
  19. Duncan BB, Chambless LE, Schmidt MI, et al. Association of the waist-to-hip ratio is different with wine than with beer or hard liquor consumption. Am J Epidemiol 1995;142:1034-8.
  20. Fernandez-Anaya S, Crespo JF, Rodriguez JR, et al. Beer anaphylaxis. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;103:959-60.
  21. Feskanich D, Korrick SA, Greenspan SL, et al. Moderate alcohol consumption and bone density among postmenopausal women. J Womens Health 1999;8:65-73.
  22. Fraser AG. Pharmacokinetic interactions between alcohol and other drugs. Clin Pharmacokinet 1997;33:79-90.
  23. Friedman LA, Kimball AW. Coronary heart disease mortality and alcohol consumption in Framingham. Am J Epidemiol 1986;124:481-9.
  24. Galanis DJ, Joseph C, Masaki KH, et al. A longitudinal study of drinking and cognitive performance in elderly Japanese American men: the Honolulu-Asia aging study. Am J Publ Health 2000;90:1254-9.
  25. Ganry O, Baudoin C, Fardellone P. Effect of alcohol intake on bone mineral density in elderly women. Am J Epidemiol 2000;151:773-80.
  26. Gaziano JM, Buring JE, Breslow JL, et al. Moderate alcohol intake, increased levels of high-density lipoprotein and its subfractions, and decreased risk of myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med 1993;329:1829-34.
  27. Goldberg I, Mosca L, Piano MR, Fisher EA. AHA Science Advisory: Wine and your heart: a science advisory for healthcare professionals from the Nutrition Committee, Council on Epidemiology and Prevention, and Council on Cardiovascular Nursing of the American Heart Association. Circulation 2001;103:472-5.
  28. Gronbaek M, Becker U, Johnasen D, et al. Type of alcohol consumed and mortality from all causes, coronary heart disease, and cancer. Ann Int Med 2000;133:411-9.
  29. Hart CL, Smith GD, Hole DJ, Hawthorne VM. Alcohol consumption and mortality from all causes, coronary heart disease, and stroke: results from a prospective cohort study of Scottish men with 21 years of follow up. BMJ 1999;318:1725-9.
  30. Hennekens CH, Willett W, Rosner B, et al. Effects of beer, wine, and liquor in coronary deaths. JAMA 1979;242:1973-4.
  31. Isselbacher KJ, Braunwald E, Wilson JD, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 13th Ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 1994.
  32. Kannel WB, Ellison RC. Alcohol and coronary heart disease: the evidence for a protective effect. Clin Chim Acta 1996;246:59-76.
  33. Kato H, Yoshikawa M, Miyazaki T, et al. Expression of p53 protein related to smoking and alcoholic beverage drinking habits in patients with esophageal cancers. Cancer Lett 2001;167:65-72.
  34. Kiechl S, Willeit J, Rungger G, et al. Alcohol consumption and atherosclerosis: what is the relation? Prospective results from the Bruneck Study. Stroke 1998;29:900-7.
  35. Klatsky AL, Armstrong MA, Friedman GD. Red wine, white wine, liquor, beer, and risk for coronary artery disease hospitalization. Am J Cardiol 1997;80:416-20.
  36. Klatsky AL. Should patients with heart disease drink alcohol. JAMA 2001;285:2004-6.
  37. Koehler KM, Baumgartner RN, Garry PJ, et al. Association of folate intake and serum homocysteine in elderly persons according to vitamin supplementation and alcohol use. Am J Clin Nutr 2001;73:628-37.
  38. Koh-Banerjee P, Chu N, Spiegelman D, et al. Prospective study of the association of changes in dietary intake, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and smoking with 9-y gain in waist circumference among 16 587 US men. Am J Clin Nutr 2003;78:719-27.
  39. Langer RD, Criqui MH, Reed DM. Lipoproteins and blood pressure as biological pathways for effect of moderate alcohol consumption on coronary heart disease. Circulation 1992;85:910-5.
  40. Liu Y, Tanaka H, Sasazuki S, et al. Alcohol consumption and severity of angiographically determined coronary artery disease in Japanese men and women. Atherosclerosis 2001;156:177-83.
  41. Malarcher AM, Giles WH, Croft JB, et al. Alcohol intake, type of beverage, and the risk of cerebral infarction in young women. Stroke 2001;32:77-83.
  42. Mennella J. Alcohol's effect on lactation. Alcohol Res Health 2001;25:230-4.
  43. Michaud DS, Giovannucci E, Willett WC, et al. Coffee and alcohol consumption and risk of pancreatic cancer in two prospective United States cohorts. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2001;10:429-37.
  44. Monteiro R, Becker H, Azevedo I, Calhau C. Effect of hop (Humulus lupulus L.) flavonoids on aromatase (estrogen synthase) activity. Agric Food Chem 2006;54:2938-43.
  45. Mukamal KJ, Conigrave KM, Mittleman MA, et al. Roles of drinking pattern and type of alcohol consumed in coronary heart disease in men. N Engl J Med 2003;348:109-18.
  46. Mukamal KJ, Longstreth WT, Mittleman MA. Alcohol consumption and subclinical findings on magnetic resonance imaging of the brain in older adults: the cardiovascular health study. Stroke 2001;32:1939-46.
  47. Mukamal KJ, Maclure M, Muller JE, et al. Prior alcohol consumption and mortality following acute myocardial infarction. JAMA 2001:285:1965-70.
  48. Mukherjee S, Sorrell MF. Effects of alcohol consumption on bone metabolism in elderly women. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;72:1073.
  49. Pearson TA. Alcohol and heart disease. Circulation 1996;94:3023-5.
  50. Pearson TA. What to advise patients about drinking alcohol. The clinician's conundrum. JAMA 1994;272:967-8.
  51. Pennell MM. One to two drinks a day may reduce risk of Alzheimer's dementia. Reuters Health. www.medscape.com/reuters/prof/2000/07/07.11/20000711epid005.html (Accessed July 11, 2000).
  52. Rapuri PB, Gallagher JC, Balhorn KE, Ryschon KL. Alcohol intake and bone metabolism in elderly women. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;72:1206-13.
  53. Rehm JT, Bondy SJ, Sempos CT, Vuong CV. Alcohol consumption and coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality. Am J Epidemiol 1997;146:495-501.
  54. Renaud SC, Gueguen R, Siest G, Salamon R. Wine, beer, and mortality in middle-aged men from eastern France. Arch Intern Med 1999;159:1865-70.
  55. Ridker PM, Vaughan DE, Stampfer MJ, et al. Association of moderate alcohol consumption and plasma concentration of endogenous tissue-type plasminogen activator. JAMA 1994;272:929-33.
  56. Rimm EB, Chan J, Stampfer MJ, et al. Prospective study of cigarette smoking, alcohol use and the risk of diabetes in men. Br Med J 1995;310:555-9.
  57. Rimm EB, Stampfer MJ. Wine, beer, and spirits: are they really horses of a different color? Circulation 2002;105:2806-7.
  58. Sacco RL, Elkind M, Boden-Albala B, et al. The protective effect of moderate alcohol consumption on ischemic stroke. JAMA 1999;281:53-60.
  59. Sesso HD, Stampfer MJ, Rosner B, et al. Seven-year changes in alcohol consumption and subsequent risk of cardiovascular disease in men. Arch Intern Med 2000;160:2605-12.
  60. Shaper AG, Wannamethee SG. Alcohol intake and mortality in middle aged men with diagnosed coronary heart disease. Heart 2000;83:394-9.
  61. Singletary KW, Gapstur SM. Alcohol and breast cancer: review of epidemiologic and experimental evidence and potential mechanisms. JAMA 2001;286:2143-51.
  62. Solomon CG, Hu FB, Stampfer MJ, et al. Moderate alcohol consumption and risk of coronary heart disease among women with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Circulation 2000;102:494-9.
  63. Stampfer MJ, Colditz GA, Willett WC, et al. A prospective study of moderate alcohol consumption and the risk of coronary disease and stroke in women. N Engl J Med 1988;319:267-73.
  64. Thadhani R, Camargo CA, Stampfer MJ, et al. Prospective study of moderate alcohol consumption and risk of hypertension in young women. Arch Intern Med 2002;162:569-74.
  65. Thun MJ, Peto R, Lopez AD, et al. Alcohol consumption and mortality among middle-aged and elderly US adults. N Engl J Med 1997;337:1705-14.
  66. Truelsen T, Gronbaek M, Schnohr P, et al. Intake of beer, wine, and spirits and risk of stroke: the copenhagen city heart study. Stroke 1998;29:2467-72.
  67. Vally H, de Klerk N, Thompson PJ. Alcoholic drinks: important triggers for asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2000;105:462-7.