Abstract
Low to moderate alcohol intake has been associated with beneficial effects on the heart and the vasculature, including improvements in several established and emerging cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors as well as reduced risk for several metabolic diseases, CVD morbidity and mortality. Binge and heavy drinking exert the opposite effects, leading to increased risks for all the above conditions. With regard to beverage type, there is some evidence supporting red wine superiority in cardioprotection, although other beverages have also been reported to exert beneficial metabolic and vascular effects when consumed in moderate amounts.
In this narrative review we discuss the associations between alcohol consumption and CVD morbidity and mortality. Alcohol-induced effects on established and emerging CVD risk factors are also discussed taking into consideration different drinking patterns. Physicians should screen for excessive alcohol use and advise individuals to limit their alcohol intake to moderate amounts (up to 20-30 g/day for men and 10-20 g/day for women), preferably consumed with meals. The question of whether alcohol intake should be encouraged as a measure to prevent CVD remains unanswered.
Keywords: Alcohol, cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular risk factors, diabetes, lipids, metabolic syndrome, statins.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Alcohol and the Cardiovascular System: A Double-Edged Sword
Volume: 20 Issue: 40
Author(s): Niki Katsiki, Konstantinos Tziomalos and Dimitri P. Mikhailidis
Affiliation:
Keywords: Alcohol, cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular risk factors, diabetes, lipids, metabolic syndrome, statins.
Abstract: Low to moderate alcohol intake has been associated with beneficial effects on the heart and the vasculature, including improvements in several established and emerging cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors as well as reduced risk for several metabolic diseases, CVD morbidity and mortality. Binge and heavy drinking exert the opposite effects, leading to increased risks for all the above conditions. With regard to beverage type, there is some evidence supporting red wine superiority in cardioprotection, although other beverages have also been reported to exert beneficial metabolic and vascular effects when consumed in moderate amounts.
In this narrative review we discuss the associations between alcohol consumption and CVD morbidity and mortality. Alcohol-induced effects on established and emerging CVD risk factors are also discussed taking into consideration different drinking patterns. Physicians should screen for excessive alcohol use and advise individuals to limit their alcohol intake to moderate amounts (up to 20-30 g/day for men and 10-20 g/day for women), preferably consumed with meals. The question of whether alcohol intake should be encouraged as a measure to prevent CVD remains unanswered.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Katsiki Niki, Tziomalos Konstantinos and Mikhailidis P. Dimitri, Alcohol and the Cardiovascular System: A Double-Edged Sword, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2014; 20 (40) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612820666140620125741
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612820666140620125741 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Cardiac Dysfunction in Rats with Dietary-Induced Insulin Resistance Associated with Pharmacologically-induced Dyslipidemia
Current Pharmaceutical Design Dietary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Agents Sirtuins: Novel Players in Male Reproductive Health
Current Medicinal Chemistry Targeting Cardiac Mast Cells: Pharmacological Modulation of the Local Renin-Angiotensin System
Current Pharmaceutical Design Polyphenols: Potential Future Arsenals in the Treatment of Diabetes
Current Pharmaceutical Design Synergistic Effect of Inhibitors of MMPs and ROS-dependent Modifications of Contractile Proteins on Protection Hearts Subjected to Oxidative Stress
Current Pharmaceutical Design Hypertensive Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Regression: Does It Matter?
Current Hypertension Reviews Pharmacological Regulators of Intracellular Calcium Release Channels
Current Pharmaceutical Design Adverse Effects of Statins - Mechanisms and Consequences
Current Drug Safety A beta oligomerization A Therapeutic Target for Alzheimers Disease
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Agents Pro- and Anti-Arrhythmic Effects of Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Editorial: (Thematic Issue: Novel Strategies for Cardiac Repair Post-Myocardial Infarction)
Current Pharmaceutical Design Viral Myocarditis and Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Etiology and Pathogenesis
Current Pharmaceutical Design Targeting Potassium Channels: New Advances in Cardiovascular Therapy
Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery Synthetic Cannabinoids as Drugs of Abuse
Current Drug Abuse Reviews Ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins in cardiac disease and protection
Current Drug Targets A Review of Natural and Synthetic Antioxidants Important for Health and Longevity
Current Medicinal Chemistry Autophagy Regulators as Potential Cancer Therapeutic agents: A Review
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry An Insight of Novel Pharmacological Therapies in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Medicinal Chemistry Endotherapia
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry