Moderate alcohol consumption and depression prevention: A critical review

Abstract

Background. There is a clear consensus that alcohol use disorders are associated with poorer outcomes concerning depression, and that drinking alcohol shouldn`t be recommended because of the risk of dependence. Until recently, literature focused almost exclusively on patients with alcohol use disorders and excludes patients with moderate alcohol use (MAU). It’s has been shown that MAU can prevent or improve the evolution of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, but several researchers have suggested that there is no safe level of alcohol drinking due to other effects on health. Nevertheless, there is some evidence regarding the antidepressant effect of moderate alcohol consumption. This critical review aims to sum up the direction and tendency of current research on the effect of MAU on depression and relate the causal or confounders factors that might explain the results.

Methods. A research was carried out through PubMed with the following keywords and Boolean operators: (“light alcohol” OR “light drinking” OR “moderate alcohol” OR “moderate drinking” OR “low risk drinking” OR “low risk alcohol”) AND (depress*) NOT (dependence OR abuse).

Results. Most of the 23 studies selected aim to investigate longitudinal effects. MAU prevents depressive symptoms in most studies, but it is still unclear to what extent this can be alternatively explained by neurochemical factors or other confounding factors (health status, sociability, other related lifestyle factors, etc.).

Conclusion. There is currently no clear and consistent scientific evidence to support moderate alcohol consumption per se as a protective factor against depression.