Moderate alcohol intake and hemostatic and inflammatory markers in middle-aged women: a controlled study

Background and aims: Several studies showed a protective effect of moderate alcohol intake on cardiovascular risk. We investigated the effects of moderate alcohol intake on inflammatory and haemostatic parameters in 17 healthy women (age 53±5years) with ≥2 vascular risk factors for CVD. Study protocol: 3-week run-in phase with isoenergetic non antiinflammatory ethanol free diet (T0-T21); 3-week isoenergetic diet and white wine (20g alcohol equivalent/die) (T21-T42); 3-weeks on the same diet with the addition of 3 portions/week of fish and nuts, low glycemic index carbohydrates, and soluble fibres (“anti-inflammatory” diet) (T42- T63); 3-weeks on the run-in phase diet (T63-T84). At baseline and at the end of each period anthropometric index, fat mass, lipid profile, CRP, IL-6, TNF-alpha, fibrinogen, vonWillebrand factor (vWf:Ag), tissue factor (TF:Ag), factor VII (FVII:Ag and c), factor VIII (FVIII:Ag) and thrombin generation parameters in plasma were measured. Results: Over the study period BMI, fat mass, triglycerides, LDL and HDL-cholesterol did not significantly change compared to baseline levels, whereas a reduction in total cholesterol levels was observed (p<0.05). Among inflammatory parameters, only IL-6 levels showed a reduction (p=0.09), non statistically significant. Alcohol intake, on the other hand, was associated with TF:Ag (p<0.05) and FVII:Ag (p<0.05) reduction. These results were paralleled by an increase of thrombin generation Lag Time (p<0.002) and ttPeak (p< 0.02). Conclusions: In middle-aged women, moderate alcohol intake reduced plasma levels of factors triggering blood coagulation and prolonged the initiation phase of thrombin generation. These information support a protective vascular effect of alcohol intake at the tested doses.