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Effect of alcohol consumption on endothelial function in men with coronary artery disease
Hiroki Teragawa1, Yukihiro Fukuda, Keiji Matsuda
1First Department of Internal Medicine, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minamiku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan. hteraga@hiroshima.ac.jp
Insights
Moderate alcohol consumption may improve endothelial function in men with coronary artery disease (CAD). This study found that regular drinkers with CAD had better brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), suggesting a potential benefit for cardiovascular health.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Vascular Biology
- Nutritional Epidemiology
Background:
- Epidemiologic studies suggest an inverse relationship between moderate alcohol intake and coronary artery disease (CAD).
- The role of endothelial function in this observed protective effect remains unclear.
- Investigating the impact of alcohol on vascular health in individuals with existing CAD is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of moderate alcohol consumption on endothelial function in men with established coronary artery disease (CAD).
- To determine if alcohol intake influences brachial artery vasodilation in response to hyperemia and nitroglycerin.
Main Methods:
- Assessed brachial artery endothelial function using high-resolution ultrasonography in 108 men with CAD.
- Measured flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and nitroglycerin (NTG)-induced vasodilation.
- Compared endothelial function between regular alcohol consumers (≥1 day/week) and non-consumers, controlling for coronary risk factors.
Main Results:
- Regular alcohol consumers with CAD exhibited significantly greater flow-mediated dilation (FMD) compared to non-consumers (P<0.0001).
- Nitroglycerin-induced vasodilation was not significantly different between the groups.
- Alcohol consumption was identified as a factor positively influencing FMD through multiple regression analysis.
- Drinkers had higher prevalence of coronary risk factors, hyperuricemia, and elevated triglycerides and specific apolipoproteins.
Conclusions:
- Moderate alcohol consumption appears to improve endothelial function, specifically flow-mediated dilation, in men with coronary artery disease.
- This improvement in endothelial function may contribute to the cardioprotective effects associated with moderate alcohol intake.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms and clinical implications of alcohol's impact on vascular health in CAD patients.
Abstract:
An inverse relationship between moderate alcohol consumption and coronary artery disease (CAD) has been observed in several epidemiologic studies. Whether improvement of endothelial function is involved in this beneficial effect is unknown. We investigated endothelial function of the brachial artery in 108 men with CAD, 54 of whom consumed alcohol on at least 1 day per week. Brachial artery diameter responses to hyperemic flow (FMD) and to administration of nitroglycerin (NTG) spray were measured using high- resolution ultrasonography. Coronary risk factors and hyperuricemia were present more frequently among drinkers, who also had higher concentrations of triglyceride and apolipoproteins C2, C3, and E. FMD was greater in drinkers (P<0.0001), while NTG-induced dilation was not. Multiple regression analysis showed alcohol consumption to be one of the factors favorably influencing FMD. These findings suggest that alcohol consumption may improve endothelial function in men with CAD.