title: Binge drinking impairs vascular function in young adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess whether young binge drinkers (BD) have impaired macrovascular and microvascular function and cardiovascular disease risk factors compared with age-matched alcohol abstainers (A).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Binge drinking rates are highest on college campuses and among those age 18 to 25 years; however, macrovascular and microvascular endothelial function in young adults with histories of repeated binge drinking (≥ 5 standard drinks in 2 h in men, ≥ 4 standard drinks in 2 h in women) has not been investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cardiovascular profiles, brachial artery endothelial-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and flow-independent nitroglycerin (NTG)-mediated dilation and vasoreactivity of resistance arteries (isolated from gluteal fat biopsies) were evaluated in A and BD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Men and women (18 to 25 years of age; A, n = 17; BD, n = 19) were enrolled. In the BD group, past-month mean number of binge episodes was 6 ± 1, and the mean duration of binge drinking behavior was 4 ± 0.6 years. FMD and NTG-mediated dilation were significantly lower in the BD group (FMD: 8.4 ± 0.7%, p = 0.022; NTG-mediated dilation: 19.6 ± 2%, p = 0.009) than in the A group (FMD: 11 ± 0.7%; NTG-mediated dilation: 28.6 ± 2%). Acetylcholine-induced and sodium nitroprusside-induced dilation in resistance arteries was not significantly different between the A and BD groups. However, endothelin-1-induced constriction was significantly enhanced in the BD group compared with the A group (p = 0.032). No differences between groups were found in blood pressure, lipoproteins, and C-reactive protein.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alterations in the macrocirculation and microcirculation may represent early clinical manifestations of cardiovascular risk in otherwise healthy young BD. This study has important clinical implications for screening young adults for a repeated history of binge drinking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goslawski
authors.affiliation: Department of Biobehavioral Health Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Mariann R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Piano
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Jing-Tan
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Bian
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Emily C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Church
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szczurek
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. Electronic address: shanep@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Shane A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018617:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult