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Alcohol consumption and blood pressure: an extended study of self-defence officials in Japan
K Wakabayashi1, K Nakamura, S Kono
1Department of Public Health, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan.
Background:
It remains controversial whether the relation between alcohol intake and blood pressure is linear or non-linear.
Methods:
The relation between alcohol intake and blood pressure was investigated in 2341 male self-defence officials who received a preretirement health examination at the Self-Defense Forces Fukuoka Hospital between October 1986 and December 1990. Average alcohol intake in the past year was ascertained by a self-administered questionnaire. The study excluded past drinkers, and allowed for smoking, body mass index and glucose tolerance.
Results:
Blood pressure was higher at higher levels of alcohol intake across the range from 0 to 40-59 ml of alcohol per day, but was not progressively higher in men consuming > or = 60 ml per day. Blood pressure was significantly higher even among light drinkers (< 20 ml per day) compared to non-drinkers; adjusted mean differences were 3.1 mmHg (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1-5.2) in systolic pressure and 2.1 mmHg (95% CI: 0.7-3.5) in diastolic pressure.
Conclusions:
Our findings do not support the existence of a threshold in the relation between alcohol and blood pressure.