Association between alcohol consumption and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis: the Study of Health in Pomerania.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Epidemiologic studies have shown a J-shaped association between alcohol consumption and vascular diseases. However, only few studies have reported on the association between alcohol intake and subclinical atherosclerosis. The aim of the study was to investigate the relation between alcohol intake and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in participants of the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania. METHODS In 1230 men and 1190 women, the mean IMT of the right and left common carotid arteries was measured by B-mode ultrasonography. Alcohol consumption was assessed with a computer-assisted face-to-face interview. RESULTS In men, carotid IMT as a function of alcohol intake was depicted as a J-shaped curve with a nadir for the alcohol intake category of 61 to 80 g/d. Linear regression models controlled for age, diabetes, systolic blood pressure, leisure time physical activity, food frequency patterns, smoking status, and education revealed a significant inverse association between IMT and alcohol intake < or =80 g/d in men (beta=-0.009, P<0.02), which became insignificant after further controlling for HDL cholesterol and fibrinogen (beta=-0.007, P=NS). In women, neither a J-shaped relation nor significant differences in IMT between the drinking and nondrinking groups were found. CONCLUSIONS Alcohol consumption is inversely correlated with carotid IMT in men but not in women. However, the total daily level of alcohol intake that shows a maximum protective effect against atherosclerosis is above the threshold where severe alcohol related comorbidity and organ damage have been reported.