Introduction:
Endothelial function is impaired in heavy or binge drinking. Heavy drinking should be a predictor of endothelial dysfunction. However, there is little information on the effects of dose-dependent alcohol consumption on endothelial function. Therefore, we evaluated the relationship between alcohol consumption and endothelial function in a large general population.
Methods and Results:
We measured flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) in 2734 men who provided self-report about habitual alcohol intake. The subjects were divided into five groups by alcohol consumption: none (0 g/week), light (0 g/week< to ≤140 g/week), moderate (140 g/week< to ≤280 g/week), heavy (280 g/week< to ≤420 g/week), and excessive (420 g/week<). Age, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, uric acid, plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c, and current smoking were significantly correlated with alcohol consumption. FMD showed a gradual decrease according to increased alcohol consumption (none, 6.6±3.4%; light, 6.2±3.0%; moderate, 6.0±3.0%; heavy, 5.5±2.9%; excessive, 5.3±3.0%; P<0.01). There was a significant difference in FMD between the non-drinker group and the light drinker group (P=0.018). After adjusted risk factors, we showed the significantly smaller FMD in the 4 drinker groups than in the non-drinker group: light drinker group (OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.75), moderate drinker group (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.82), heavy drinker group (OR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.46 to 2.87), excessive drinker group (OR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.43 to 2.89).
Conclusions:
These findings suggest that even light alcohol consumption impair the endothelial function. Alcohol drinking may be harmful for vascular function.
Discordant twin growth in utero and differences in blood pressure and endothelial function at 8 years of age
