Search resultsEffects of alcohol intake on endothelial function in men: A randomized controlled trial
Title
Effects of alcohol intake on endothelial function in men: A randomized controlled trial
Publication type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2003
Authors
Journal
Journal of Hypertension
Volume
21
Issue
1
Pagination
97 - 103
Date published
2003
ISBN
02636352 (ISSN)
Keywords
Adult, Aged, alcohol, alcohol consumption, Alcohol Drinking, Alcoholism, artery blood flow, artery dilatation, artery endothelium, article, biological marker, Biological Markers, blood pressure, brachial artery, cardiovascular disease, Cholesterol, cholesterol blood level, Cholesterol, HDL, clinical article, clinical trial, controlled clinical trial, controlled study, correlation analysis, Cross-Over Studies, Diastole, diastolic blood pressure, disease association, echography, endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule 1, endothelin 1, Endothelium, Endothelium, Vascular, gamma glutamyltransferase, gamma-Glutamyltransferase, glyceryl trinitrate, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, homocysteine, human, Humans, Ischemia, lipid, lipid blood level, male, Middle Aged, priority journal, randomized controlled trial, Risk Factors, Systole, systolic blood pressure, time series analysis, Ultrasonography, Vasodilation, Von Willebrand factor
Abstract
Background: Regular light consumption of alcohol appears to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, whereas in heavier drinkers the opposite effect is seen. This biphasic relationship could partly be due to contrasting actions of low and high alcohol intake on endothelial function. Objective: To determine whether reducing alcohol intake in moderate-to-heavy drinkers (40-110 g/day) would improve conduit artery endothelial function as assessed by post-ischaemic brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD). Methods: In a two-way cross-over study, 16 healthy men either substituted their usual alcohol intake with a 0.9% alcohol beer or maintained their usual alcohol intake during sequential 4-week periods. At the end of each period of FMD and glyceryl trinitrate-induced brachial artery dilatation, blood pressure, plasma lipids, homocysteine and biomarkers of alcohol consumption (γ-glutamyl transpeptidase) and endothelial function (E-selectin, von Willebrand factor, endothelin-1) were assessed. Results: The participants reduced their alcohol intake from 72.4 to 7.9 g/day. This self-reported reduction in alcohol intake was corroborated by significant decreases in γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (24%). The decrease in alcohol intake resulted in reductions in total cholesterol (5%), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (17%), homocysteine (9%) and systolic and diastolic blood pressure [5 mmHg (P = 0.01) and 4 mmHg (P = 0.003), respectively]. There was no effect of alcohol on FMD (6.23 ± 0.75% compared with 6.24 ± 0.71%, P = NS), glyceryl trinitrate-induced vasodilatation, E-selectin, endothelin-1 and von Willebrand factor. Conclusion: Substantial reduction in alcohol intake in healthy moderate-to-heavy drinkers does not improve endothelial function as measured by post-ischaemic flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery or biomarkers of endothelial function.