Year: 2017
Type: article
Abstract: AIMS: Epidemiological evidence indicates a protective effect of light to moderate alcohol consumption compared to non-drinking and heavy drinking. Although several mechanisms have been suggested, the effect of alcohol on atherosclerotic changes in vessel walls is unclear. Therefore, we explored the relationship between alcohol consumption and common carotid intima media thickness, a marker of early atherosclerosis in the general population. METHODS: Individual participant data from eight cohorts, involving 37,494 individuals from the USE-IMT collaboration were used. Multilevel age and sex adjusted linear regression models were applied to estimate mean differences in common carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) with alcohol consumption. RESULTS: The mean age was 57.9 years (SD 8.6) and the mean CIMT was 0.75 mm (SD 0.177). About, 40.5% reported no alcohol consumed, and among those who drank, mean consumption was 13.3 g per day (SD 16.4). Those consuming no alcohol or a very small amount (<5 g per day) had significantly lower common CIMT values than those consuming >10 g per day, after adjusting for a range of confounding factors. CONCLUSION: In this large CIMT consortium, we did not find evidence to support a protective effect of alcohol on CIMT.
Source: Alcohol and Alcoholism
Authors: Annie R. Britton, Diederick E. Grobbee, Hester M. den Ruijter, Todd J. Anderson, Moise Desvarieux, Gunnar Engström, Greg W. Evans, Bo Hedblad, Jussi Kauhanen, Sudhir Kurl, Eva M. Lonn, Ellisiv B. Mathiesen, Joseph F. Polak, Jacqueline F. Price, Christopher M. Rembold, Maria Rosvall, Tatjana Rundek, Jukka T. Salonen, Coen Stehouwer, Tomi-Pekka Tuomainen, Michiel L. Bots
Institutions: University College London, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Calgary, Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, Columbia University, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Wake Forest University, University of Eastern Finland, Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tufts University, University of Edinburgh, University of Virginia, University of Miami, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht University
Language: English
Subfield: Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,126
OpenAlex ID: W2614573284