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Alcohol, coagulation and fibrinolysis
H F Hendriks1, M S van der Gaag
1TNO-Nutrition and Food Research Institute, Zeist, The Netherlands.
Novartis Foundation Symposium
|February 9, 1999
Summary
Moderate alcohol intake may reduce coronary heart disease mortality by favorably impacting blood clotting factors. This research explores how moderate alcohol consumption influences haemostasis, suggesting a protective effect against heart disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Haemostasis and Thrombosis
- Nutritional Epidemiology
Background:
- Thrombosis is a major contributor to coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality.
- Specific haemostatic risk factors for CHD are not well-defined, with the exception of fibrinogen.
- Alcohol consumption is known to influence platelet function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of moderate alcohol consumption on haemostatic factors.
- To determine if these haemostatic changes are associated with a reduced risk of CHD mortality.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on alcohol consumption and haemostasis.
- Analysis of haemostatic parameters including fibrinogen, platelet aggregability, tissue-type plasminogen activator, and plasminogen activator inhibitor.
Main Results:
- Moderate alcohol consumption may alter fibrinogen concentration.
- Platelet aggregability appears to be affected by moderate alcohol intake.
- Changes in fibrinolytic factors, tissue-type plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor, are observed with moderate alcohol consumption.
Conclusions:
- Moderate alcohol consumption may beneficially influence the haemostatic balance.
- These haemostatic changes support a hypothesis of decreased risk for coronary heart disease mortality with moderate alcohol intake.