A study of 50,000 people found that men who drank daily had a 41% reduced risk of coronary heart disease compared with a 7% drop in men who drank once a week.
In women, the risk of heart disease fell by a third with a weekly drink but did not fall further in daily drinkers.
Experts warned the results, published in the British Medical Journal, should not be used to justify heavy drinking.
Previous research has shown that moderate alcohol intake is associated with a lower risk of heart disease, but up until now most studies have been in men.
Men and women aged 50-65 who took part in this study were questioned on their drinking behaviour and then followed for an average of six years.
Women drank an average of five and a half drinks a week, and men consumed 11.
In men, the risk of heart disease fell significantly with increased frequency of drinking - with men who drank a little every day having the lowest risk.
But for women, although drinking on at least one day a week was associated with a 36% reduced risk of heart disease compared to those who drank more rarely, the risk was the same whether women had one drink a week or drank moderately each day.
Steve - positive results from a well designed, large population study. Moderate wine consumption is an ideal dietary choice except for those with sulfa allergy, grape allergy, salicylate sensitivity, or yeast overgrowth.
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