Past research has indicated that moderate alcohol consumption may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, recent studies have suggested that even moderate drinking could be detrimental to heart health.
A new analysis led by Boston University School of Public Health and elsewhere examines the complex relationship between alcohol consumption and CVD, focusing on circulating metabolites—molecules produced during or after metabolism that serve as biomarkers for diseases.
Key Findings
The study analyzed a total of 60 alcohol consumption-related metabolites and identified seven circulating metabolites associated with long-term moderate alcohol consumption that increased the risk of CVD.
Conversely, three circulating metabolites linked this same drinking pattern to a decreased risk of CVD. These findings emphasize the need for further research into these metabolites to inform targeted prevention and treatment strategies for alcohol-related CVD.
Complex Relationship
The research highlights that alcohol consumption can lead to changes in metabolomic profiles, potentially yielding both beneficial and harmful outcomes.
While the study contributes to the ongoing discussion about moderate alcohol consumption and heart health, it underscores the intricate effects of alcohol on cardiovascular health and presents a hypothesis for future investigations.
Study Details
The study involved 2,428 participants from the Framingham Heart Study Offspring Study, who were followed over a 20-year period. Blood samples were analyzed to measure the association between alcohol consumption and 211 metabolites.
Among the participants, 636 developed CVD during the study period. The results showed varying metabolomic responses based on the type of alcohol consumed, with beer having a slightly weaker association than wine and liquor.
Additionally, certain metabolites showed stronger associations in women compared to men.
Future Research
The study’s authors emphasize the need for validation through state-of-the-art methods and larger, more diverse study populations.
They plan to conduct larger-scale research involving diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, as the current study participants are predominantly white.
The goal is to explore complex relationships between alcohol consumption, metabolite features, and cardiovascular risk by integrating genetic information and other molecular markers.
The findings contribute to our understanding of how alcohol affects cardiovascular health, shedding light on its potential benefits and risks.
The study provides valuable insights into the molecular pathways influenced by long-term alcohol consumption.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about Why light-to-moderate drinking is linked to better heart health and findings of Reconsidering the long-term use of high blood pressure beta blockers after a heart attack.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about new way to prevent heart attacks and strokes, and results showing this drug for heart disease may reduce COVID-19 risk.
The research findings can be found in the journal BMC Medicine.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
