A large study has found that the relationship between alcohol and health may differ depending on both the amount consumed and the type of alcoholic beverage.

Researchers examined health and drinking data from 340,924 adults who participated in the UK Biobank study between 2006 and 2022. Participants were followed for more than 13 years on average.

The findings, presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session, showed that heavy alcohol consumption was associated with a significantly higher risk of death, regardless of the type of alcohol consumed.

Compared with people who rarely or never drank, those in the highest alcohol consumption group were 24 percent more likely to die from any cause.

They were also 36 percent more likely to die from cancer and 14 percent more likely to die from heart disease.

However, researchers observed a different pattern among people who consumed lower amounts of alcohol.

At low and moderate levels, beer, cider and spirits were associated with a higher risk of death, while wine consumption was associated with a lower risk.

The difference was particularly notable when researchers examined cardiovascular deaths. People who consumed wine at moderate levels had a 21 percent lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared with those who rarely or never drank.

In contrast, even low levels of beer, cider or spirits consumption were associated with a 9 percent higher risk of cardiovascular death.

Researchers said several factors could help explain the difference. Wine, particularly red wine, contains compounds such as polyphenols and antioxidants that may have cardiovascular effects.

Wine is also more commonly consumed with meals and is often associated with healthier diets and lifestyle habits.

However, the researchers stressed that the findings do not prove that wine itself protects against disease or death.

The study was observational, meaning it examined existing drinking habits rather than assigning people to consume specific types or amounts of alcohol.

Participants also reported their alcohol intake only when they entered the study, so changes in drinking habits over time were not fully captured.

The researchers also noted that UK Biobank participants tend to be healthier than the general population, which may limit how widely the findings can be applied.

Zhangling Chen, senior author of the study, said the findings provide a more detailed picture of how both the amount and type of alcohol may be associated with health outcomes.

Despite the limitations, the large number of participants and long follow-up period provide substantial data on the relationship between alcohol consumption and mortality.

The researchers said further high-quality studies are needed to determine whether differences between alcoholic beverages are directly responsible for the health patterns observed.