The Protective Effect of Moderate Alcohol Consumption on Ischemic Stroke

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Abstract
Several case-control and prospective cohort studies have shown that moderate alcohol consumption has a protective effect on the risk of cardiac mortality and myocardial infarction.1-3 The effect of moderate alcohol consumption on stroke is controversial. While several case-control4,5 and prospective cohort6-9 studies have shown that alcohol consumption has a direct dose-dependent effect on the risk of hemorrhagic stroke, the data on infarction, which accounts for approximately 80% of all strokes, are contradictory. Some studies suggest that moderate consumption confers a protective effect on the risk of ischemic stroke in certain populations,8,10-16 while studies in other populations find no beneficial effect.6,17-28 It has been speculated that there is a differential effect of alcohol dependent on race/ethnicity since studies in white populations10-12,14,15 have found a protective effect, while those in Asian populations9,18,23,27,28 have not. Among blacks, some studies have found a protective effect,13 while others have not.21 No study has addressed the relationship between alcohol and stroke among Hispanics. To help clarify the relationship of alcohol consumption to ischemic stroke among different racial/ethnic groups, we undertook a population-based case-control study in a multiethnic, elderly population.