Table of Contents

ABSTRACT

The Global burden of Disease (GBD) Study, based on epidemiological studies, estimated that any amount of alcohol intake may be harmful to health, which appears to be biased. While some of the risk factors such as growth failure and pollution, tobacco intake and obesity, have been duly adjusted in the interpretation of their role in increasing the adverse effects of alcohol, no such consideration was made for protective factors, which may reduce the risk of alcohol intake. In addition, the amount of alcohol consumed, type of alcoholic beverages, drinking frequency, pattern of consumption, and the outcomes under study may also influence the risk. It seems that certain protective diet and lifestyle factors (food content, time of eating and mastication, taking regular breakfast), which are known to reset circadian clock function and inflammation, are other confounders. It is possible that moderate alcohol intake should have no adverse effects in the presence of a healthy diet and lifestyle, which is the main message of the French paradox.

Keywords: Ethanol, drinking, protective factors, risk factors