A comprehensive analysis involving seven international research studies, published in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension, suggests a direct correlation between alcohol consumption and increased blood pressure, even in adults without hypertension.
This finding challenges the commonly held notion that moderate alcohol intake is harmless or even beneficial for heart health.
The University of Modena and Reggio Emilia University’s Professor Marco Vinceti, M.D., Ph.D., and his team, embarked on this ambitious project to scrutinize the effects of alcohol on blood pressure, irrespective of the ‘standard drink’ measurements that vary globally.
They focused on the gram content of alcohol consumption, offering a more precise and universally applicable measure.
The study, involving more than 19,548 adults (65% men) from the United States, Korea, and Japan, spanned from 1997 to 2021.
Participants ranged in age from their 20s to early 70s at the start of the studies and had no previous diagnosis of high blood pressure or other major health conditions.
Researchers observed that even low levels of alcohol consumption, quantified at 12 grams per day, were associated with detectable increases in both systolic (the top number) and diastolic (the bottom number) blood pressure.
The impact was more pronounced in males than females, and the risk escalated with increased alcohol intake. For example, consuming an average of 48 grams of alcohol per day led to a systolic blood pressure rise of 4.9 mm Hg and a diastolic increase of 3.1 mm Hg.
Vinceti and his team were surprised to find that even a low level of alcohol consumption could lead to higher blood pressure changes over time, debunking the myth of its benign or beneficial nature in heart health.
This finding is particularly significant as systolic blood pressure is a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease risk.
Paul K. Whelton, M.D., M.Sc., of Tulane University and a leading figure in hypertension guidelines, underscores that individuals with higher initial blood pressure readings exhibited a stronger correlation between alcohol intake and blood pressure changes over time.
This suggests that even those with slightly elevated blood pressure could benefit significantly from reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption.
The American Heart Association emphasizes the importance of a healthy lifestyle over alcohol consumption for cardiovascular health.
They recommend non-drinkers not to start drinking and advise those who do drink to discuss with their doctor the risks and benefits of moderate alcohol consumption.
This groundbreaking study provides a nuanced understanding of alcohol’s role in cardiovascular health, urging a reevaluation of alcohol consumption habits, especially for those at risk of developing hypertension.
It also aligns with the Association’s guidelines for maintaining optimal heart health, advocating for a balanced lifestyle that includes healthy eating, physical activity, and controlling blood pressure levels.
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The research findings can be found in Circulation Research.
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