Acute alcohol ingestion reduced arterial stiffness (P<0.01), whereas chronic excessive consumption (>21 units/week) increased augmentation index (12 vs 5; P<0.05) and blood pressure.
Observational (n=324)
Does acute and chronic alcohol consumption affect arterial stiffness and blood pressure?
Alcohol has divergent effects on arterial stiffness, with acute ingestion reducing it and chronic excessive consumption increasing it.
Absolute Event Rate: 12% vs 5%
p-value: p=< .05
To study the effects of alcohol on large artery function we measured arterial wave reflection in the aorta as augmentation index (AI%) by applanation tonometry in 324 subjects (18 to 86 years, 223 male). In eight subjects, when ingested acutely, red wine containing alcohol (0.8 g/kg), but not dealcoholized wine, reduced (P 21 units/week) had a higher AI% (12 +/- 2 v 5 +/- 2, P < .05) and BP, particularly aortic systolic, than did those with a lesser intake. This study suggests that alcohol when ingested acutely may reduce arterial stiffness, although alcohol when ingested chronically, in excess, increases it.
Azra Mahmud (Fri,) reported a observational. Alcohol (acute and chronic) vs. Dealcoholized wine (acute); lesser intake (chronic) was evaluated on Augmentation index (AI%) (p=< .05). Acute alcohol ingestion reduced arterial stiffness (P<0.01), whereas chronic excessive consumption (>21 units/week) increased augmentation index (12 vs 5; P<0.05) and blood pressure.