Abstract
Background/objectives
Low/moderate alcohol consumption seems to be protective against cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study aimed to investigate the association of wine/beer consumption with the 10-year CVD incidence.
Subjects/methods
During 2001–2002, 3042 CVD-free adults consented to participate in the ATTICA study; of them 2583 completed the 10-year follow-up (85% participation rate), but precise information about fatal/nonfatal CVD incidence (myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, cardiac ischemia, heart failure, chronic arrhythmias, and stroke) was available in 2020 participants (overall retention rate 66%). Alcohol/ethanol intake and the alcoholic beverages consumed were assessed; participants were categorized into three groups (no use; ≤1 glass/week; >1 glass/week).
Results
Alcohol drinking was reported by 56% of the participants who did not develop a CVD event and 49% of those who had (p = 0.04); whereas ethanol intake was 14 ± 16 g among those who did not had an event vs. 21 ± 18 g among those who had a CVD event (p < 0.001). A strong inverse and similar association between low wine/beer intake (≤1 glass/week) and the risk of developing CVD was observed [HR: 0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.17–0.98; and HR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.20–0.93, respectively], as compared to abstention. No significant association was found in participants exceeding drinking 1 glass/week compared with abstainers. Compared to <2 g/day ethanol intake, participants who reported 2–10, 10–20, and >20 g/day had CVD-risk HRs (95% CI) of 0.60 (0.40–0.98), 1.22 (0.60–1.14), and 1.81 (0.70–4.61), respectively.
Conclusions
This study revealed similar results of low wine/beer consumption against CVD incidence, mainly due to its implication on low-grade chronic inflammation.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the ATTICA study group of investigators: Yannis Skoumas, Natasa Katinioti, Labros Papadimitriou, Constantina Masoura, Spiros Vellas, Yannis Lentzas, Manolis Kambaxis, Konstanitna Paliou, Vassiliki Metaxa, Agathi Ntzouvani, Dimitris Mpougatas, Nikolaos Skourlis, Christina Papanikolaou, Aikaterini Kalogeropoulou, Evangelia Pitaraki, Alexandros Laskaris, Mihail Hatzigeorgiou and Athanasios Grekas, and Eleni Kokkou for either assistance in the initial physical examination and follow-up evaluation, Efi Tsetsekou for her assistance in psychological evaluation and follow-up evaluation, as well as the laboratory team: Carmen Vassiliadou and George Dedousis (genetic analysis), Marina Toutouza-Giotsa, Constantina Tselika, and Sia Poulopouloou (biochemical analysis) and Maria Toutouza for database management.
Funding
D.B. Panagiotakos and E. Georgousopoulou received research grants by Coca-Cola SA. The ATTICA study has been funded by research grants from the Hellenic Cardiology Society and the Hellenic Atherosclerosis Society.
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Panagiotakos, D.B., Kouli, GM., Magriplis, E. et al. Beer, wine consumption, and 10-year CVD incidence: the ATTICA study. Eur J Clin Nutr 73, 1015–1023 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-018-0296-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-018-0296-6