Effect of light-to-moderate alcohol consumption on age-associated arterial stiffening.
Increased thickness and stiffness of large arteries may contribute to why aging is the most important risk for cardiovascular diseases. Arterial stiffness, intimal medial thickness, and alcohol intake were measured in 563 subjects. A U-shaped relation was found between alcohol intake and a stiffness index, with the lowest index in moderate drinkers, which may partially explain the relation between alcohol and cardiovascular disease.
Hougaku
Hidetaka
H
Clinical Research Branch, Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21225, USA.
Fleg
Jerome L
JL
Lakatta
Edward G
EG
Scuteri
Angelo
A
Earley
Christopher J
CJ
Najjar
Samer
S
Deb
Saswata
S
Metter
E Jeffrey
EJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology; D014655:Vascular Resistance