Is an increased waist : hip ratio the cause of alcohol-induced hypertension? The AIR94 study.
OBJECTIVE
The mechanisms of alcohol-associated hypertension are not known. We tested the hypothesis that the alcohol-associated increase in blood pressure may be caused in part by an alcohol-induced accumulation of abdominal fat.


METHODS
A total of 842 non-smoking men (mean +/- SD age 52 +/- 16 years) attending the air-show AIR94 in Bouchs, Switzerland, volunteered to participate in a cross-sectional study. Four alcohol consumption frequency categories were self-reported, together with weight changes since the age of 20 and during the last 2 years. Blood pressure, body weight, height and the waist : hip ratio were measured.


RESULTS
The results showed that 83% of the subjects were alcohol-consumers. Systolic (analysis of variance, P = 0.002) and diastolic (P = 0.009) blood pressure and the waist : hip ratio (P>0.0001) increased with increasing alcohol consumption. The self-judged dietary fat intake increased significantly with increasing alcohol consumption. Weight changes over time were positively associated with alcohol consumption. In a regression model alcohol consumption was the fourth most important contributor to systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as to an increased abdominal fat mass.


CONCLUSIONS
The alcohol-associated increase in blood pressure may be caused in part by an alcohol-induced accumulation of abdominal fat. Alcohol consumption favours the development of a positive energy balance and thus the abdominal deposition of fat, which is associated with an increased blood pressure. To reduce the risk of a positive energy balance and the abdominal deposition of fat, the intake of alcohol should be minimized and physical activity increased whenever possible.
Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Policlinic, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Suter
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Maire
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Vetter
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001824:Body Constitution / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires