An Expanding Knowledge of the Mechanisms and Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

Over the last 2 decades, observational evidence largely supports an association between light to moderate alcohol consumption (up to 1 drink per day in women and up to 2 drinks per day in men) and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), largely driven by a reduction in coronary heart disease. Most studies suggest a nadir in risk in the light to moderate range of alcohol intake, which is then countered by an increase in cardiomyopathy, sudden death, and hemorrhagic stroke at higher drinking levels that offsets potential benefits. The mechanisms of cardioprotective effects of alcohol are complex and there are multiple pathways by which moderate alcohol consumption reduces the risk of CVD. Recent evidence continues to emerge on the physiologic and genetic mechanisms through which alcohol may reduce the risk of developing CVD. Ongoing debate also lingers whether there are important differences in cardiovascular effects according to alcoholic beverage type (beer vs red wine vs liquor). Another emerging area of interest is the role of alcohol consumption on the development of intermediate cardiovascular endpoints such as hypertension and diabetes that lead to the development of CVD as well as other important cardiovascular sequelae. Alcohol consumption has also been shown to impact the risk of other CVD endpoints including congestive heart failure, alcoholic cardiomyopathy, atrial fibrillation, and peripheral artery disease. Overall, alcohol still carries significant public health implications given its plausible benefits on CVD along with its well-documented adverse effects, warranting continued caution and a discussion with one's primary care provider regarding intake.

Contributing Determinants to Hearing Loss in Elderly Men and Women: Results from the Population-Based Rotterdam Study

“…The contrary seems true for the effect of alcohol consumption, as associations are only found with low-frequency loss, suggesting an influence upon the apical part of the cochlea. Dawes et al [2014] also found an inverse effect of alcohol on hearing loss suggesting alcohol has a protective function on hearing due to complex cardiovascular pathways [Matsumoto et al, 2014]. Concerning other cardiovascular risk factors, we found an effect of systolic blood pressure in low-frequency hearing loss in men, an effect of BMI in low-and high-frequency hearing loss in women and an effect of diabetes mellitus in high-frequency hearing loss in men.…”

Schokolade, Alkohol und Kaffee

“…Auch proarrhythmogene Wirkungen sowohl in Bezug auf das Auftreten von Vorhofflimmern als auch von ventrikulären Tachykardien sind beschrieben [62,63]. Des Weiteren führt chronischer Alkoholkonsum zu einer Blutdruckerhö-hung und zu einem erhöhten Risiko hä-morrhagischer Schlaganfälle [60,62,64,65]. Die kardioprotektiven Wirkungen der oben genannten Studien bezogen sich alle auf geringe bis mäßige Mengen Alkohol.…”

Physiology in Medicine: update on lifestyle determinants of postprandial triacylglycerolemia with emphasis on the Mediterranean lifestyle

“…A recent study, investigating another alcohol drink (vodka), showed that the effect on PPL is transient and abolished ϳ12 h after alcohol intake (58). Indeed, epidemiological studies indicate that low or moderate consumption of alcohol is associated with lower postprandial TAG concentrations in a white population (75,84), and this may be one, albeit not the sole, mechanism by which low to moderate alcohol consumption is associated with reduced CVD risk (23,31,54).…”