Key result
Repeated binge drinking and moderate alcohol consumption were associated with higher arterial stiffness compared to alcohol abstainers (0.6 and 0.5 m/s higher, respectively; P≤0.04).
Why the study?
The study was conducted to investigate the effect of repeated binge drinking and moderate alcohol consumption on arterial stiffness and sympathetic activity in young adults.
Does repeated binge drinking or moderate alcohol consumption increase arterial stiffness and sympathetic activity in healthy young adults?
Cross-Sectional (n=49)
Does repeated binge drinking or moderate alcohol consumption increase arterial stiffness and sympathetic activity in healthy young adults?
Repeated exposure to alcohol, whether binge or moderate drinking, is associated with increased aortic arterial stiffness in healthy young adults, potentially mediated by sympathetic activation.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Should not yet change alcohol advice for young adults; hypothesis-generating for binge drinking effects on vascular risk.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of repeated binge drinking and moderate alcohol consumption in young adults on arterial stiffness and sympathetic activity. METHODS: We enrolled 49 healthy young adults, free of cardiovascular diseases (25 men; age: 23.5 ± 0.4 years; BMI: 23.4 ± 0.4 kg/m; mean ± S.E). Individuals included were those with a history of repeated binge drinking (>2 years duration; n = 20), drank at moderate levels (MODs, >5 years duration; n = 16) and abstained from alcohol (last 2-3 years; n = 13). Arterial stiffness was assessed using carotid to femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and sympathetic activity was assessed using 24-h urinary norepinephrine levels. Also measured was aortic SBP and augmentation index (AIx), a measure of wave reflection. RESULTS: Binge drinkers and MODs had higher cfPWV than alcohol abstainers (0.6 and 0.5 m/s, respectively; P ≤ 0.04). In addition, binge drinkers had higher urinary norepinephrine levels than MODs and alcohol abstainers (P < 0.05). Higher cfPWV were correlated with higher norepinephrine levels (r = 0.35. P = 0.02). Aortic SBP (P = 0.2) and AIx (P = 0.96) were similar among binge drinkers, MODs and alcohol abstainers. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that repeated exposure to alcohol, regardless of drinking pattern, may increase aortic arterial stiffness in healthy young adults. In addition, sympathetic activation, reflected by increased 24-h urinary norepinephrine levels, may contribute to alcohol-induced arterial stiffening in young adults.
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Hwang et al. (2019) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy (n=49). Repeated binge drinking and moderate alcohol consumption vs. Alcohol abstainers was evaluated on Arterial stiffness assessed using carotid to femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) (0.6 and 0.5 m/s higher, p=≤ 0.04). Repeated binge drinking and moderate alcohol consumption were associated with higher arterial stiffness compared to alcohol abstainers (0.6 and 0.5 m/s higher, respectively; P≤0.04).
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