Wine Consumption Linked to Increased Survival Rates in non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

According to a study presented at the recent American Association for Cancer Research, a pre-diagnostic lifestyle that includes drinking wine may help save the lives of some patients suffering from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The study looked at over 540 women with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and discovered that those who drank wine had an increased five-year survival percentage over the women who didn't drink wine (76% compared to 68%). In addition, five-year, disease-free survival was higher for wine drinkers as well (70% compared to 65%).

The authors of the study, which included a doctoral candidate at the Yale School of Public Health, are urging caution, stressing that the results of this study by no means amounted to a public health recommendation. They said that the evidence favors drinking wine in moderation for a number of health benefits, but until a reliable and widely applicable definition of "in moderation" exists, the conclusion remains a controversial one.

One more thing: the increased survival rates applied to wine drinkers only. Niether beer nor liquor had the same effect.