The J-shape association of ethanol intake with total homocysteine concentrations: the ATTICA study

Nutrition & Metabolism

Christodoulos Stefanadis³  Antonia Trichopoulou²  Antonis Zampelas¹  Yannis Chloptsios²  Christina Chrysohoou³  Meropi D Kontogianni¹  Demosthenes B Panagiotakos¹  Christos Pitsavos³ 

[1] Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece;Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece;First Cardiology Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

关键词: inflammation;    homocysteine;    ethanol;   

Others  :  1138636
DOI  :  10.1186/1743-7075-1-9

 received in 2004-09-16, accepted in 2004-10-14,  发布年份 2004

【 摘 要 】

Background

Epidemiological studies suggest a non-monotonic effect of alcohol consumption on cardiovascular risk, while there is strong evidence concerning the involvement of homocysteine levels on thrombosis. The aim of this work was to evaluate the association between usual ethanol consumption and homocysteine levels, in cardiovascular disease free adults.

Methods

From May 2001 to December 2002 we randomly enrolled 1514 adult men and 1528 women, without any evidence of cardiovascular disease, stratified by age – gender (census 2001), from the greater area of Athens, Greece. Among the variables ascertained we measured the daily ethanol consumption and plasma homocysteine concentrations.

Results

Data analysis revealed a J-shape association between ethanol intake (none, <12 gr, 12 – 24 gr, 25 – 48 gr, >48 gr per day) and total homocysteine levels (mean ± standard deviation) among males (13 ± 3 vs. 11 ± 3 vs. 14 ± 4 vs. 18 ± 5 vs. 19 ± 3 μmol/L, respectively, p < 0.01) and females (10 ± 4 vs. 9 ± 3 vs. 11 ± 3 vs. 15 ± 4 vs. 17 ± 3 μmol/L, respectively, p < 0.01), after controlling for several potential confounders. The lowest homocysteine concentrations were observed with ethanol intake of < 12 gr/day (Bonferroni α* < 0.05). No differences were observed when we stratified our analysis by type of alcoholic beverage consumed.

Conclusion

We observed a J-shape relationship between homocysteine concentrations and the amount of ethanol usually consumed.

【 授权许可】

   
2004 Pitsavos et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

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