title: The effect of moderate alcohol consumption on biomarkers of inflammation and hemostatic factors in postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Inflammation and hemostasis contribute to the etiology of cardiovascular disease. We previously demonstrated that moderate alcohol consumption (1-2 drinks/day) may decrease risk for cardiovascular disease because of an improved lipid profile. In addition to these beneficial changes, the alcohol-mediated reduction in risk may be through its effect on inflammation and hemostasis. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of moderate alcohol consumption on biomarkers of inflammation and hemostasis in postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of a controlled diet study, 53 postmenopausal women each consumed a weight-maintaining diet plus 0, 15 and 30 g/day of alcohol for 8 weeks, in a randomized crossover design. The controlled diet contained 15%, 53% and 32% of energy from protein, carbohydrate and fat, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 decreased by 5% (P<0.05) with consumption of both 15 and 30 g of alcohol. Fibrinogen concentrations decreased by 4% and 6% (P<0.05) after consumption of 15 and 30 g alcohol, respectively. Fibrin D-dimer decreased by 24% (P<0.05) after consumption of 30 g of alcohol. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) concentrations were increased 27 and 54% (P<0.05) after consumption of 15 and 30 g of alcohol. Plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and factor VII coagulant activity did not change with alcohol consumption.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that moderate alcohol consumption may have beneficial effects on inflammation and hemostasis in postmenopausal women, and this may be somewhat mitigated by an increase in PAI-1.
authors.affiliation: Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, US Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Beltsville, MD, USA.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Stote
authors.affiliation: University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, USA.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Tracy
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, US Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Beltsville, MD, USA.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Baer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000941:Antigens / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005167:Factor VII; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000378:metabolism; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006487:Hemostasis; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000097:blood; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D015415:Biomarkers; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; D006490:Hemostatics; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; C051321:SERPINE1 protein, human; C042580:factor VII clotting antigen; C036309:fibrin fragment D; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D005167:Factor VII; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein