Abstract
Numerous epidemiological studies, numbering nearly 100, have documented an inverse association between alcohol consumption and vascular risk. The preponderance of evidence supports an independent beneficial effect of mild-to-moderate alcoholic beverage consumption on risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). However, it is important to remember that observational data cannot prove causation; unmeasured or incompletely controlled confounding factors cannot be excluded. That said, most authorities now attribute a causal role to the relationship: moderate alcohol consumption reduces the risk of CHD, and current research centers on the mechanistic underpinnings and whether patterns of drinking are important. Here, I review the association between alcohol use and CHD risk, explore putative mechanisms, and make recommendations.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 124-135 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | American Journal of the Medical Sciences |
Volume | 329 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2005 |
Keywords
- Alcohol drinking
- Arteriosclerosis
- Atherosclerosis
- Coronary disease
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine