title: [A practical approach to the evaluation of excessive alcohol drinking].
abstract: Epidemiological data show a typical J curve between alcohol intake and coronary artery disease mortality. Non drinkers have an increased risk of coronary artery disease, and moderate drinking is associated with a risk decrease of about 30%. However, this beneficial effect is observed for daily consumptions of 5 g/d to 40 g/d in men, and 5 g/d to 20 g/d in women. Higher alcohol consumption is associated with increased risk and therefore must be sought in each patient. Both the amount and type of drinks must be assessed and specialised questionnaires may be used to this purpose. In addition, 4 biological markers can be useful: gamma GT, mean red blood cells volume, carbohydrate deficient transferring (CDT) and HDL cholesterol. A simple intervention in excessive drinkers has proved beneficial over the long-term.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U558, département d'épidémiologie, faculté de médecine Toulouse-Purpan, 37, allée Jules Guesde, 31073 Toulouse, France. camboujp@aol.com
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Cambou
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012016:Reference Values; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014168:Transferrin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014168:Transferrin; C056759:carbohydrate-deficient transferrin; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase