Drinking two or three glasses of wine a week could reduce the risk of asthma, a new study has revealed.
The research found that those who drink within six units of alcohol a week are less likely to develop the condition than those who don’t drink at all.
Heavy drinkers consuming four or more units a day, however, face an increased risk.
Researchers from the Bispebjerg Hospital in Copenhagen studied more than 19,000 twins aged between 12 and 41 over a period of eight years.
Fewer than 4 per cent of those who drank moderately developed asthma compared to 4.5 per cent of those who drank heavily and 6 per cent of teetotallers.
The findings were presented yesterday at the European Respiratory Society’s Annual Congress in Amsterdam. Researcher Sofie Liebroth said:
“While excessive alcohol intake can cause health problems, the findings suggest that a moderate intake can reduce the risk of developing asthma.”
“By examining all the factors linked with the development of asthma, we can understand more about what causes the condition and how to prevent it.”