Advanced Search

Journal Navigation

Journal Home

Subscriptions

Archive

Contact Us

Table of Contents

Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Request Reprints
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Papadakis, J.A.
Right arrow Articles by Mikhailidis, D.P.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati  
What's this?

Beneficial effect of moderate alcohol consumption on vascular disease: myth or reality?

J.A. Papadakis

Dept. of Molecular Pathology & Clinical Biochemistry, Royal Free Campus, Royal Free, University College Medical School (University College London), Pond Street, London NW3 2QG, UK

E.S. Ganotakis

Dept. of Molecular Pathology & Clinical Biochemistry, Royal Free Campus, Royal Free, University College Medical School (University College London), Pond Street, London NW3 2QG, UK

D.P. Mikhailidis

Dept. of Molecular Pathology & Clinical Biochemistry, Royal Free Campus, Royal Free, University College Medical School (University College London), Pond Street, London NW3 2QG, UK

Moderate ethanol consumption (1-3 drinks/day on 5-6 days/week) has a favourable effect on vascular disease-related mortality and morbidity [especially ischaemic heart disease (IHD)]. This cardioprotective effect may be due to significant effects on cardiovascular risk factors such as high density cholesterol (HDL) concentration (HDL protects from IHD) and an inhibition of platelet aggregation (increased platelet aggregability predicts coronary events).

In contrast, alcoholics and problem drinkers have an excess of IHD-related, and possibly stroke-related, mortality. Excessive alcohol intake may raise the blood pressure. Prolonged alcohol abuse can also result in alcoholic ?? muscle disease. Alcohol is the major cause of non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy in Western society.

Although there is a widespread belief that red ?? protects more than other alcoholic beverages, several studies do not support this interpretation.

Key Words: Alcohol • cardiovascular disease • haemostatic variables • ischaemic heart disease • lipids • peripheral vascular disease • stroke

The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, Vol. 120, No. 1, 11-15 (2000)
DOI: 10.1177/146642400012000111
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?