Research
Mixed
Current alcohol use results in a net mortality burden, with deaths from other causes outweighing the averted deaths from ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, and diabetes.
Be aware that alcohol has a net negative impact on mortality. While it may offer some protection against heart disease and diabetes, the risks from cancer, liver disease, and injuries outweigh these benefits. Limiting or avoiding alcohol can improve overall health outcomes.
StrongQualifiesHIGH confidence
Although 26,000 (23,000–40,000) deaths from ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, and diabetes were averted by current alcohol use, they were outweighed by 90,000 (88,000–94,000) deaths from other cardiovascular diseases, cancers, liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis, alcohol use disorders, road traffic and other injuries, and violence.
Why this rating
Based on nationally representative surveys (NESARC), systematic reviews, and NCHS mortality data.
Source
The Preventable Causes of Death in the United States: Comparative Risk Assessment of Dietary, Lifestyle, and Metabolic Risk Factors
Goodarz Danaei et al. · PLoS Medicine · 2009
DOI 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000058
Meta-analysisCited 2,880×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Tobacco smoking and high blood pressure are the leading preventable causes of death in the United States, responsible for approximately 467,000 and 395,000 deaths respectively in 2005.Strong
- Overweight/obesity and physical inactivity are each responsible for nearly 1 in 10 deaths in the US, making them major contributors to preventable mortality.Strong
- High dietary salt, low dietary omega-3 fatty acids, and high dietary trans fatty acids are the dietary risks with the largest mortality effects, causing 102,000, 84,000, and 82,000 deaths respectively.Strong
Related findings · Mixed
- Bariatric surgery (VSG and RYGB) is the most effective and sustainable treatment for obesity, producing marked and sustained weight loss that non-surgical interventions cannot match.Strong
- Severely protein-deficient diets (2–3% energy) induce lean body mass loss and metabolic imbalance, whereas adequate protein intake (0.66 g/kg/d minimum) is a prerequisite for maintaining muscle, bone, and physiological function.Strong
- For patients with Class III obesity (BMI >39.9 kg/m2), metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is significantly more effective than any currently approved medication, with BilioPancreatic Diversion (BPD) showing the highest estimated weight loss.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →