No more than five glasses of wine or eight pints a week to preserve its DNA. This is the advice formulated by British researchers at the University of Oxford after their study published this July 26 in the journal Molecular Psychiatry. According to them, excessive consumption has long-term consequences on the body, in particular by accelerating natural aging.
In question ? The telomeres, these “caps” located at the end of the chromosomes and which allow them to be protected. Previous studies have already shown that shorter telomeres could be responsible for age-related diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and coronary heart disease. And if they naturally shorten with age, alcohol amplifies the phenomenon.
The DNA of 40% of drinkers of more than 17 weekly units is modified
The researchers looked at data from more than 245,000 people, with an average age of 57, including 51% men and 49% women. Most were alcohol consumers: only 3% said they had never drunk alcohol in their life. They found that people who drank more than 17 units of alcohol — that’s five glasses of wine or eight pints of beer a week — had shorter telomeres.
Compared to drinking less than six units of alcohol per week (approximately two large 250ml glasses of wine), drinking 29 units per week (i.e. 10 250ml glasses of wine at 14% alcohol) was associated with aging between one and two years. In people diagnosed with alcohol use disorder, the age could be increased by three to six years.
The researchers also found that DNA was altered – and therefore telomeres shortened – in 40% of drinkers over 17 units per week. Conversely, no impact occurred on telomeres below this dose, suggesting that drinking less than five glasses of wine per week does not affect DNA.
Genetic study provides new evidence that #alcohol accelerates biological aging
Listen to an interview with Dr Anya Topiwala on @BBCr4today ➡️ https://t.co/xwd2gVDGky
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But then, why does alcohol have an impact on telomere length? According to the research team, the increase in oxidative stress and inflammation could explain this phenomenon. “The process that breaks down ethanol in the body can both produce reactive oxidant species that damage DNA and reduce levels of antioxidant compounds that protect against oxidative stress.”indicates the communicated from Oxford University.
“Our results provide another piece of information for clinicians and patients looking to reduce the harmful effects of excess alcohol.”, concluded Dr. Anya Topiwala, lead author of the study. In France, health authorities recommend 10 glasses maximum per weekwhile in 2020 nearly 24% of the population aged 18-75 exceeded the drinking benchmarks.
Sources:
- Alcohol consumption and telomere length: Mendelian randomization clarifies alcohol’s effects, Molecular PsychiatryJuly 26, 2022
- Genetics study provides evidence that alcohol accelerates biological aging, University of Oxford, July 26, 2022
- Alcohol and health: improving knowledge and reducing risksPublic Health France
- Alcohol: definition and guidelines for consumptionAmeli.fr
Read also:
- Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s: 7 glasses of alcohol per week damage the brain
- In the UK it is now possible to buy anti-hangover pills
- Alcohol: consequences on the brain, even for light drinkers
