Effect of moderate dose of alcohol with evening meal on fibrinolytic factors.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages on the fibrinolytic system and to assess whether these effects could help explain the relation between moderate alcohol consumption and reduced coronary heart disease.


METHODS
Four treatments were allocated in a randomised controlled order on four days over a period of 11 days.


METHODS
Metabolic ward of research institute.


METHODS
Eight white healthy middle aged men.


METHODS
Subjects were provided with food for the 11 days. On the four study days mineral water or 40 g of alcohol in the form of beer, wine, or spirits was consumed at dinner early in the evening.


METHODS
Plasminogen activator inhibitor activity, tissue type plasminogen activator antigen, and tissue type plasminogen activator activity one hour before and one, three, five, nine, and 13 hours after dinner with mineral water or alcoholic beverages.


RESULTS
After dinner with alcohol plasminogen activator inhibitor activity rose from 53 (SD 19)% to a maximum of 667 (283%) five hours after dinner (P < 0.001). Tissue type plasminogen activator antigen levels rose from 5.3 (2.2) micrograms/l to a maximum of 10.8 (3.8) micrograms/l nine hours after dinner with alcohol (P < 0.001). Plasminogen activator activity was reduced in the postprandial period (from 1387 (483) IU/l to 323 (288) IU/l five hours after eating; P < 0.001) but was higher than normal early the next morning (1516 (809) IU/l after alcohol, 779 (516) IU/l after water; P = 0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
Moderate alcohol consumption with dinner affects plasminogen activator inhibitor activity, plasminogen activator antigen level, and tissue type plasminogen activator activity temporarily. The effects observed in the early morning are consistent with a decrease in risk of coronary heart disease in moderate drinkers.
Hendriks
H F
HF
Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) Toxicology and Nutrition Institute, Zeist, Netherlands.
Veenstra
J
J
Velthuis-te Wierik
E J
EJ
Schaafsma
G
G
Kluft
C
C
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000378:metabolism*; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000378:metabolism*; D015849:Plasminogen Inactivators / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism
D015849:Plasminogen Inactivators; D010960:Plasminogen Activators; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator