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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Food Components and Health Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #314503
Title: The effect of moderate alcohol consumption on biomarkers of inflammation and hemostatic factors in postmenopausal women

Author
item STOTE, KIM - State University Of New York (SUNY)
item TRACY, RUSSELL - University Of Vermont
item TAYLOR, PHILIP - National Cancer Institute (NCI, NIH)
item Baer, David

Submitted to: European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/18/2015
Publication Date: 4/1/2016
Citation: Stote, K.S., Tracy, R.P., Taylor, P.R., Baer, D.J. 2016. The effect of moderate alcohol consumption on biomarkers of inflammation and hemostatic factors in postmenopausal women. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 70:470-474.

Interpretive Summary: Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a decreased risk for cardiovascular disease. Inflammation and the balance between blood clot formation and breakdown (hemostasis) contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease, especially coronary heart disease. We have previously demonstrated that moderate alcohol consumption (1-2 drinks/day) may decrease risk for cardiovascular disease by improving cholesterol profile. In addition to these beneficial changes in cholesterol, alcohol may reduce risk for cardiovascular disease risk through its effect on the inflammatory and hemostatic processes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of moderate alcohol consumption on biomarkers of inflammation and hemostasis in postmenopausal women. As part of a controlled diet study, postmenopausal women (n=53) each consumed a weight-maintaining diet plus 0 g/d, 15 g/d (1 drink/d) and 30 g/d (2 drinks/d) of alcohol for eight weeks, in a randomized crossover design. The women consumed a highly-controlled diet for the duration of the study. The controlled diet contained 15%, 53% and 32% of energy from protein, carbohydrate and fat, respectively. Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 is a protein that is involved in the attachment and movement of cells in the inside of blood vessels. This protein decreased by 5% with consumption of both 15 g/d and 30 g/d of alcohol. The concentration of fibrinogen, protein involved in blot clot formation, decreased by 4% and 6% (P<0.05) after consumption of 15 g/d and 30 g/d of alcohol, respectively. Fibrin D-dimer, a protein fragment that is released during blot clot breakdown, decreased by 24% after consumption of 30 g/d of alcohol. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, which inhibits blood clot breakdown, concentration was increased 27% and 54% after consumption of 15 g/d and 30 g/d of alcohol. Plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and factor VII coagulant activity did not change with alcohol consumption. These data suggest that moderate alcohol consumption may have beneficial effects on inflammation and hemostasis in postmenopausal women, which may be mitigated by an increase in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. These data are important to consumers interested in the relationship between diet and risk for disease and allied health and medical professionals involved with making dietary recommendations.

Technical Abstract: Inflammation and hemostasis contribute to the etiology of cardiovascular disease. We previously demonstrated that moderate alcohol consumption (1-2 drinks/day) may decrease risk for cardiovascular disease due to an improved the lipid profile. In addition to these beneficial changes, the alcohol mediated reduction in risk may be through its effect on inflammation and hemostasis. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of moderate alcohol consumption on biomarkers of inflammation and hemostasis in postmenopausal women. As part of a controlled diet study, 53 postmenopausal women each consumed a weight maintaining diet plus 0 g/d, 15 g/d and 30 g/d of alcohol for eight weeks, in a randomized crossover design. The controlled diet contained 15%, 53% and 32% of energy from protein, carbohydrate and fat, respectively. Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 decreased by 5% (P<0.05) with consumption of both 15 g/d and 30 g/d of alcohol. Fibrinogen concentrations decreased by 4% and 6% (P<0.05) after consumption of 15 g/d and 30 g/d alcohol, respectively. Fibrin D-dimer decreased by 24% (P<0.05) after consumption of 30 g/d of alcohol. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 concentrations were increased 27% and 54% (P<0.05) after consumption of 15 g/d and 30 g/d of alcohol. Plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and factor VII coagulant activity did not change with alcohol consumption. These data suggest that moderate alcohol consumption may have beneficial effects on inflammation and hemostasis in postmenopausal women, which may be somewhat mitigated by an increase in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 concentration.