London, May 23 (IANS) Moderate drinkers are found to have better health than teetotallers, a new study reveals.

Telegraph.co.uk reported that the findings reveal that moderate drinkers have lower rates of heart disease, obesity and depression than people who abstain from alcohol entirely.

Boris Hansel of the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris, who led the research, said: "Moderate alcohol intake is a powerful marker of a higher social level, superior general health status and lower cardiovascular risk."

As part of the study the researchers analysed the medical records of 150,000 people from Paris area who underwent medical examinations between 1999 and 2005.

The researches divided the sample into four groups - people who did not drink; light drinkers; moderate drinkers; and heavy drinkers. An analysis of the records showed that light and moderate drinkers scored better than both teetotallers and heavy drinkers on a range of health indicators.

In addition to reduced rates of heart disease and depression, they tended to have lower cholesterol and lower blood sugar levels, and suffer less from stress.

The study indicated that people who drink moderately "for pleasure" could continue doing so, he said.

But the findings, published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a Nature title, do not support the medicinal use of wine or any other alcoholic drink.

"It is not appropriate to promote alcohol consumption as a basis for cardiovascular protection," said Hansel.

Last year research from the Wageningen University in the Netherlands indicated that half a glass of wine a day can add five years to your life. Compounds in red wine have also been shown to stop the build up of fatty tissue in the arteries of animals.