BEIJING, March 1 (Xinhuanet) -- Dutch researchers claimed that drinking a small amount of wine appeared to extend men's life expectancy by a few years, media Thursday reported.

    The researchers said that drinking a small amount of alcohol -- less than a glass per day -- was associated with lower rates of death from cardiovascular causes and overall causes.

    "The main message is that if you already consume alcoholic beverages, do so moderately -- one or two glasses per day maximum," said Martinette Streppel from Wageningen University and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in the Netherlands.

    "And if you have to choose a certain beverage, then at least drink wine, because it has an additional beneficial effect above just the effect of alcohol itself," said Streppel.

    The researchers followed alcohol intake in seven surveys carried out over four decades starting in 1960, tracking some men until they died and the rest until 2000. The men were asked about drinking, eating and smoking habits, weight, and prevalence of heart attack, stroke, diabetes and cancer.

    Drinking wine appeared to be more protective than spirits and beer. Drinking an average of about half a glass of wine per day was associated with lowest mortality levels, the researchers found.

    However, the researchers did not look at how alcohol may provide health benefits.

    Streppel said it could be due to an increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, or to a reduction in blood clotting.

    (Agencies)