Abstract
Low to moderate alcohol intake has been associated with beneficial effects on the heart and the vasculature, including improvements in several established and emerging cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors as well as reduced risk for several metabolic diseases, CVD morbidity and mortality. Binge and heavy drinking exert the opposite effects, leading to increased risks for all the above conditions. With regard to beverage type, there is some evidence supporting red wine superiority in cardioprotection, although other beverages have also been reported to exert beneficial metabolic and vascular effects when consumed in moderate amounts.
In this narrative review we discuss the associations between alcohol consumption and CVD morbidity and mortality. Alcohol-induced effects on established and emerging CVD risk factors are also discussed taking into consideration different drinking patterns. Physicians should screen for excessive alcohol use and advise individuals to limit their alcohol intake to moderate amounts (up to 20-30 g/day for men and 10-20 g/day for women), preferably consumed with meals. The question of whether alcohol intake should be encouraged as a measure to prevent CVD remains unanswered.
Keywords: Alcohol, cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular risk factors, diabetes, lipids, metabolic syndrome, statins.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Alcohol and the Cardiovascular System: A Double-Edged Sword
Volume: 20 Issue: 40
Author(s): Niki Katsiki, Konstantinos Tziomalos and Dimitri P. Mikhailidis
Affiliation:
Keywords: Alcohol, cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular risk factors, diabetes, lipids, metabolic syndrome, statins.
Abstract: Low to moderate alcohol intake has been associated with beneficial effects on the heart and the vasculature, including improvements in several established and emerging cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors as well as reduced risk for several metabolic diseases, CVD morbidity and mortality. Binge and heavy drinking exert the opposite effects, leading to increased risks for all the above conditions. With regard to beverage type, there is some evidence supporting red wine superiority in cardioprotection, although other beverages have also been reported to exert beneficial metabolic and vascular effects when consumed in moderate amounts.
In this narrative review we discuss the associations between alcohol consumption and CVD morbidity and mortality. Alcohol-induced effects on established and emerging CVD risk factors are also discussed taking into consideration different drinking patterns. Physicians should screen for excessive alcohol use and advise individuals to limit their alcohol intake to moderate amounts (up to 20-30 g/day for men and 10-20 g/day for women), preferably consumed with meals. The question of whether alcohol intake should be encouraged as a measure to prevent CVD remains unanswered.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Katsiki Niki, Tziomalos Konstantinos and Mikhailidis P. Dimitri, Alcohol and the Cardiovascular System: A Double-Edged Sword, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2014; 20 (40) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612820666140620125741
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612820666140620125741 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Ammonium Activates Ouabain-Activated Signalling Pathway in Astrocytes: Therapeutic Potential of Ouabain Antagonist
Current Neuropharmacology Identification and Characterization of New Proteins in Podocyte Dysfunction of Membranous Nephropathy by Proteomic Analysis of Renal Biopsy
Current Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine Identification of Molecular Targets Associated with Ethanol Toxicity and Implications in Drug Development
Current Pharmaceutical Design Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy and the Dilemma of Defining the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Current Pediatric Reviews Hyperpolarized Metabolic MR in the Study of Cardiac Function and Disease
Current Pharmaceutical Design Pharmacologic Therapy in Growth Hormone Disorders and the Heart
Current Medicinal Chemistry A<sub>3</sub> Adenosine Receptor: A Plausible Therapeutic Target for Cardio-Protection in Diabetes
Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery Endothelial Microparticles: Mediators or Markers of Endothelial Cell Dysfunction?
Current Hypertension Reviews Adipobiology for Novel Therapeutic Approaches in Metabolic Syndrome
Current Vascular Pharmacology Potential Therapeutic Effects of Na+/Ca2+ Exchanger Inhibition in Cardiac Diseases
Current Medicinal Chemistry Protein Factors Mediating Selenoprotein Synthesis
Current Protein & Peptide Science Exercise as a platform for pharmacotherapy development in cardiac diseases
Current Pharmaceutical Design The Shift in the “Paradigm” of the Pharmacology of Hypertension
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Combating Obesity by Targeting Nuclear Receptors
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Agents Unfolding Cardiac Amyloidosis –From Pathophysiology to Cure
Current Medicinal Chemistry Pathophysiology of Idiopathic Atrial Fibrillation - Prognostic and Treatment Implications
Current Pharmaceutical Design Hypertension and Cardiac Arrhythmias
Current Pharmaceutical Design Lipid Lowering Agents and the Endothelium: An Update after 4 Years
Current Vascular Pharmacology Eisenmenger Syndrome: Recent Advances in Pharmacotherapy
Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Nitric Oxide: State of the Art in Drug Design
Current Medicinal Chemistry