Moderate Alcohol Consumption and Cardiovascular Disease

The effects of alcohol consumption on human health have fuelled a vigorous scientific debate in recent years. This volume, based on the scientific sessions of the International Meeting on MODERATE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, held in Venice October 30-31, 1999, is intended to offer an up-to-date view of the most recent information on this complex topic. While comprehension ofthe damages associated with alcohol abuse has improved, an increasing number of epidemiological studies performed in different countries of the world, have shown that individuals consuming moderate amounts of alcohol (l 0-30 g/day, approximately equivalent to not more than two drinks per day in men and one drink per day in women) are less affected by acute coronary events than total abstainers. The apparent protection is evident (the rate of coronary events in most studies is reduced by about 30%) and has been observed and documented among various population groups (men, women, several racial groups, middle-aged and older individuals). Protection is seen in patients with no known history of coronary heart disease, as well as in those with coronary heart disease, diabetes, etc. Recent data suggest that the protection induced by a moderate alcohol use extends to the risk of ischemic strokes and of ischemic damage to the lower limbs. Since adverse alcohol effects are less frequent at these low daily intakes, total mortality is also favourably affected in moderate alcohol consumers as compared to abstainers.