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Assessing Endothelial Vasodilator Function with the Endo-PAT 2000
Published on: October 15, 2010
Alcohol and red wine consumption, but not fruit, vegetables, fish or dairy products, are associated with less
B C T van Bussel1,2,3, R M A Henry1,3,4, C G Schalkwijk1,3,4
1Department of Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre + (MUMC+), Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Insights
Moderate alcohol and red wine consumption were linked to reduced endothelial dysfunction and inflammation in elderly Dutch individuals. These dietary factors may positively impact atherothrombosis processes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Disease Research
- Nutritional Epidemiology
- Inflammation Biomarkers
Background:
- Endothelial dysfunction and low-grade inflammation are central to cardiovascular disease (CVD) development.
- Dietary patterns, including fruit, vegetable, fish, dairy, and alcohol intake, are associated with CVD risk.
- Understanding the specific impact of food groups on these pathological processes is crucial for preventative strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between consumption of specific food groups (alcohol, red wine, fruits, vegetables, fish, dairy) and markers of endothelial dysfunction and low-grade inflammation.
- To examine these relationships in a population-based cohort of elderly individuals.
Main Methods:
- Dietary intake was assessed using food frequency questionnaires in 801 elderly Dutch participants.
- Endothelial dysfunction was evaluated using a composite biomarker score and flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD).
- Low-grade inflammation was assessed via a composite biomarker score including C-reactive protein and other inflammatory markers. Linear regression analyses adjusted for multiple covariates.
Main Results:
- Moderate and high alcohol consumption, and specifically red wine consumption, were associated with lower endothelial dysfunction biomarker scores and greater FMD.
- Red wine consumption was significantly associated with a lower low-grade inflammation biomarker score.
- Associations for FMD did not reach statistical significance. Other food groups showed no significant associations.
Conclusions:
- Alcohol and red wine consumption may exert beneficial effects on processes contributing to atherothrombosis.
- These findings suggest a potential role for moderate alcohol and red wine intake in cardiovascular health maintenance.
Purpose:
Endothelial dysfunction and low-grade inflammation are key phenomena in the pathobiology of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Their dietary modification might explain the observed reduction in CVD that has been associated with a healthy diet rich in fruit, vegetables and fish, low in dairy products and with moderate alcohol and red wine consumption. We investigated the associations between the above food groups and endothelial dysfunction and low-grade inflammation in a population-based cohort of Dutch elderly individuals.
Methods:
Diet was measured by food frequency questionnaire (n = 801; women = 399; age 68.5 ± 7.2 years). Endothelial dysfunction was determined (1) by combining von Willebrand factor, and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, endothelial selectin and thrombomodulin, using Z-scores, into a biomarker score and (2) by flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), and low-grade inflammation by combining C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, interleukin 6, interleukin 8, tumour necrosis factor α and sICAM-1 into a biomarker score, with smaller FMD and higher scores representing more dysfunction and inflammation, respectively. We used linear regression analyses to adjust associations for sex, age, energy, glucose metabolism, body mass index, smoking, prior CVD, educational level, physical activity and each of the other food groups.
Results:
Moderate [β (95% CI) -0.13 (-0.33; 0.07)] and high [-0.22 (-0.45; -0.003)] alcohol consumption, and red wine [-0.16 (-0.30; -0.01)] consumption, but none of the other food groups, were associated with a lower endothelial dysfunction biomarker score and a greater FMD. The associations for FMD were, however, not statistically significant. Only red wine consumption was associated with a lower low-grade inflammation biomarker score [-0.18 (-0.33; -0.04)].
Conclusions:
Alcohol and red wine consumption may favourably influence processes involved in atherothrombosis.
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