Alcohol consumption and inflammatory markers in older adults: the Cardiovascular Health Study.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine the relation of alcohol intake and systemic inflammation in a population-based sample of older adults.


RESULTS
As part of the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS), 5865 adults aged 65 years and older reported their intake of beer, wine, and liquor. We determined white blood cell count (WBC), factor VIII coagulant activity (factor VIIIc), and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, and albumin as markers of systemic inflammation. Among participants without confirmed cardiovascular disease, alcohol consumption was inversely associated with WBC, factor VIIIc, and fibrinogen level, and positively associated with albumin concentration in multivariate analyses. We found no consistent modification of these results by sex, obesity, or beverage type. The relation of alcohol use and CRP levels was significantly modified by apoE genotype (P interaction 0.03), with a positive association among participants with an apoE4 allele (P = 0.05), but a trend toward an inverse association among those without an apoE4 allele (P = 0.15).


CONCLUSIONS
Alcohol intake is associated with lower levels of inflammatory markers in older adults free of cardiovascular disease.
Mukamal
Kenneth J
KJ
Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, RO-114, Boston, MA, USA. kmukamal@caregroup.harvard.edu
Cushman
Mary
M
Mittleman
Murray A
MA
Tracy
Russell P
RP
Siscovick
David S
DS
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000032:analysis; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000032:analysis*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein