Alcohol intake and aortic stiffness in young men and women

Moderate alcohol consumption has been shown to protect against cardiovascular disease. Aortic stiffness can be regarded as a marker of cardiovascular disease risk. Previously we have shown an inverse to J-shaped association between alcohol intake and aortic stiffness in middle-aged and elderly men and postmenopausal women.

In the present study we examined whether a relation between alcohol intake and aortic stiffness is already present at a younger age.

Cross-sectional data of a cohort study in men and women aged 28 years were analysed stratified by gender (240 men and 283 women).

Alcohol intake was derived from a questionnaire and aortic stiffness was assessed by pulse-wave velocity measurement.

In women an alcoholic beverage intake of >/=1 glass/day is associated with a 0.36 m/s (95% confidence interval, -0.58 to -0.14) lower pulse-wave velocity compared with non-drinkers. In men alcohol intake is also inversely related to pulse-wave velocity, but this was not significant. These findings were independent of age, blood pressure and heart rate.

These findings suggest that moderate intake of alcohol may affect vascular stiffness at an early age, notably in women. These findings may be viewed as compatible with a vascular protective effect of alcohol that expresses well before the occurrence of symptomatic cardiovascular disease.