FIBRINOGEN/FIBRINOLYSIS

Mennen L I et al Fibrinogen, a possible link between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular disease? ARTERIOSCLER THROMB VASC BIOL 1999;19:887-92.

Consumption of wine and  spirits but not beer or cider demonstrated U-shaped association with blood fibrinogen concentration in men and linear inverse relationship in women. Fibrinogen concentration in men was lowest in those subjects who drank 20 to 59 grams of alcohol per day. Since these cross-sectional data were derived from 4967 men and women (mean age 47 years) in the western central part of France, the authors suggest the lowering effects were probably due to wine: "the mean intake of spirits in grams per day was low and the observed U-shaped curve for this type of alcoholic beverage can be mainly explained by the fact that those men who drink spirits also drink wine." In both men and women fibrinogen concentration was highest in nondrinkers. The highest consumption level for women was 40 to 59 grams ethanol equivalent per day (23 women) which was associated with the lowest fibrinogen concentration.

The authors conclude: "moderate drinking may lower fibrinogen concentration." "…association between fibrinogen and alcohol consumption may explain the protective effect of moderate alcohol intake on cardiovascular disease if fibrinogen is indeed a causal risk factor for cardiovascular disease."

Ridker P M et al Association of moderate alcohol  consumption and plasma concentration of endogenous tissue-type plasminogen activator. JOUR AMER MED ASSOC 1994;272:929-33.

Data continue to be compiled that suggest additional mechanisms whereby the  moderate use of dietary alcohol may prevent coronary artery disease. This article demonstrates an association between alcohol consumption and plasma levels of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA). Endogenous tissue-type  plasminogen activator is a major component of the fibrinolytic system. The authors theorized that if t-PA was elevated by alcohol consumption, coronary thrombosis and myocardial infarction then may be reduced by a shift  in hemostatic balance to a net fibrinolytic activity.

The study involved 631 apparently healthy male physicians aged 40 to 84 years with no history of myocardial infarction, stroke, or transient cerebral  ischemia. This group was previously randomly selected to be control subjects for the Physicians' Health Study (22071 US male physicians in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2x2 factorial design trial  of aspirin and beta carotene). A food frequency questionnaire asked for a single response to seven categories of alcohol consumption (no separation made between wine, beer or liquor). This allowed participants to be classified as daily, weekly, monthly, or rare/never consumers of alcohol. Mean plasma levels of t-PA antigen were 10.9, 9.7, 9.1 and 8.1 ng/mL respectively (P for trend 0.0002). The highest mean level, 12 ng/mL, was found among those men who reported daily alcohol consumption of two or more drinks per day. The positive relation between alcohol consumption and t-PA antigen level was not materially changed by multiple linear  regression analysis that adjusted for age, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, body mass index, parental history of myocardial infarction, exercise frequency, or systolic and diastolic blood  pressure.

The authors conclude: "these data indicate a positive association between moderate alcohol intake and plasma level of endogenous t-PA antigen that is independent of high-density lipoprotein  cholesterol. This finding supports the hypothesis that changes in fibrinolytic potential may be an important mechanism whereby moderate alcohol consumption decreases risk of heart disease."

[Home] [About] [Health/Wine] [Calendar] [Membership] [Links] [Photo Gallery] [Newsletter]

copyright 2004/Disclaimer

Site created and maintained by Ed Bierman, MLS