[Alcohol consumption and circulating markers of inflammation].
Atherosclerosis, the leading cause of death in western countries, is a multifactiorial condition in which a local and low-grade inflammatory response plays an important role. Elevation in markers of inflammation prospectively defines risk of atherosclerotic complications and predicts all-cause mortality. Alcohol consumption has been related with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular risk with a J-shaped relationship, suggesting that alcohol consumption might have an antiinflammatory effect. This review assesses the current state of knowledge regarding the immunomodulatory effect of moderate alcohol consumption.
Volpato
Stefano
S
Sezione di Medicina Interna, Gerontologia e Geriatria, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Ferrara. vlt@unife.it
Fellin
Renato
R
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein