Alcohol Consumption Modifies the Total Lung Capacity in Smokers

Abstract

Smoking-related airflow obstruction can develop with or without emphysema. Moderate alcohol consumption has been suggested to diminish the risk of centrilobular emphysema caused by smoking. Our aim was to study the influence of total energy and nutrient (protein, fat, carbohydrate and alcohol) intake on smoking-related emphysema. Lung function and nutrient intake including alcohol consumption were recorded at the age of 68 years in 478 men as part of the population study ‘Men Born in 1914’ in Malmö, Sweden. In nonsmokers (n = 88) and ex-smokers (n = 223), there were no significant relationships between energy and nutrient intake and lung function. In smokers (n = 167), men in the highest and lowest quintile of total lung capacity (TLC) differed in alcohol intake (p = 0.004) but not in intake of total energy or other nutrients. In smokers with a forced expiratory volume in 1 s/vital capacity ratio of below 70% (n = 81), alcohol intake was positively correlated with TLC (r = 0.31; p = 0.006) after adjustment for smoking and body mass index. We conclude that in men with smoking-related airway obstruction, emphysema defined as large TLC was associated with high alcohol consumption but not with the intake of total energy or other nutrients.

Profile of Nicotine Use Among Alcohol Dependent Patients Visiting a Tertiary Care Center in North India

“…Alcohol consumption is associated with a significant decline in lung capacity. [11] Tobacco use is widely prevalent among substance using patients in treatment settings. A national level treatment center in India reported tobacco use along with co-morbid alcohol use in 36.4% of subjects coming to a tobacco cession clinic.…”

Association of Lung Function With Atherosclerotic Risk Factors Among Japanese Americans: Seattle Nikkei Health Study

“…Others have also reported positive associations of wine intake with FEV 1 % and FVC%, 23,24 showing a possible protective effect of alcohol on pulmonary function 25,26 . However, other studies have found negative associations between heavy drinking and pulmonary function 27–29 or no associaton 30,31 . In the present study, 99% of drinkers were light/moderate drinkers, which was reflected in the average daily consumption of pure alcohol: 5.8 g for males and 1.3 g for females (compared with 27.3 g for Japanese males in Japan 13 ).…”

Evidence for a Positive Association Between Pulmonary Function and Wine Intake in a Population-Based Study

“…Some, but not all, previous studies have shown a negative association of alcohol intake with pulmonary function. [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] Taking all studies together, total alcohol intake might not be strongly associated with pulmonary function, but the underlying reason for the conflicting evidence may, at least in part, be related to the failure of studying beverage-specific al-cohol in most of these studies. Our study supports this latter hypothesis.…”