Wine and alcohol: true or false friends of cardiovascular disease?

If the deleterious effects of alcohol are well known, epidemiologists persist in their claim that the use of alcohol, especially wine, has a benefit to the cardiovascular system, said Professor Jacques Bonnet (of hospital cardiac Top Leveque, Pessac) in the Letter of NSFA (New French Atherosclerosis Society)

Cardiovascular risks associated with alcohol consumption

The mainstream press will never forget the wine in the praises of the Mediterranean diet. "However, the cardiologist, the beneficial effect of this consumption is still not clear," he warns.

According to him, one of the most worrying risk of the impact of alcohol is cerebral hemorrhage. "Numerous case-control studies have clearly demonstrated that excessive alcohol consumption leads to an increase in the risk of cerebral hemorrhage. A prospective study has nevertheless shown that the risk in the heavy drinker (more than 6 drinks per day) remains moderate (1.9 times) and the moderate consumer, same old, presents a risk equivalent to about abstinence, "says the specialist.

One of the harmful actions of alcohol is its role in the increased risk of hypertension. "However, that Dr. Bonnet observe the analysis of this relationship seems to indicate that the deleterious effect of hypertension is mostly related to alcohol consumption between meals, regardless of the type."

Alcohol consumption also plays a major deleterious effect on cardiac function, inducing or encouraging the development of primitive dilated cardiomyopathy and cardiac arrhythmias, he further informed.

"This risk is not only related to the famous" Holiday heart syndrome suggested by the double frequency of alcohol consumption in patients hospitalized for atrial fibrillation (arrhythmia from the left atrium of the heart) weekend end compared to people with the same problem in a week. This risk, which is the main cause of ischemic stroke, also seems to present any chronic and more than two drinks per day consumption. Given these observations, it is clear the cardiologist can only remain cautious about the problem of alcohol, "says Dr. Bonnet.

What explains the beneficial role?

Yet, says the doctor, successive epidemiological studies consistently found a beneficial effect of moderate alcohol consumption on CHD mortality, independent of the type of alcohol consumed and even predominant in women with an equivalent of 250 ml role wine per day.

"Moderate consumption of wine also protects people from cognitive decline in women even vascular dementia," he continues.

The explanations about the beneficial role of alcohol are complex, both social and related to direct effects of alcohol or wine on the body, he says.

"It is in France that wine drinkers have a healthier lifestyle and that any moderate consumption also reduces the level of stress in this way playing a role in the prevention of strokes," said the expert, adding that the most important action appears to be related to a biological effect dominated by three targets, HDL cholesterol (or "good") cholesterol, fibrinogen and HbA1c (a marker of blood sugar). Other actions have been identified, antiplatelet and antioxidant.

"Drinking alcohol, particularly wine consumption thus protects consumers from cardiovascular diseases, provided to do during meals and in moderation. This consumption should not be recommended, however, instead of taking into lifestyle management and appropriate medication, when it becomes necessary, "concludes the cardiologist.