16 july 2013

Binge drinking impairs vascular function in young adults

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess whether young binge drinkers (BD) have impaired macrovascular and microvascular function and cardiovascular disease risk factors compared with age-matched alcohol abstainers (A).

BACKGROUND: Binge drinkingBinge drinking (consuming rapidly four or more alcoholic drinks over a short period of time) has bee... rates are highest on college campuses and among those age 18 to 25 years; however, macrovascular and microvascular endothelial function in young adults with histories of repeated binge drinking (>/= 5 standard drinks in 2 h in men, >/= 4 standard drinks in 2 h in women) has not been investigated.

METHODS: Cardiovascular profiles, brachial artery endothelial-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and flow-independent nitroglycerin (NTG)-mediated dilation and vasoreactivity of resistance arteries (isolated from gluteal fat biopsies) were evaluated in A and BD.

RESULTS: Men and women (18 to 25 years of age; A, n = 17; BD, n = 19) were enrolled. In the BD group, past-month mean number of binge episodes was 6 +/- 1, and the mean duration of binge drinking behavior was 4 +/- 0.6 years. FMD and NTG-mediated dilation were significantly lower in the BD group (FMD: 8.4 +/- 0.7%, p = 0.022; NTG-mediated dilation: 19.6 +/- 2%, p = 0.009) than in the A group (FMD: 11 +/- 0.7%; NTG-mediated dilation: 28.6 +/- 2%). Acetylcholine-induced and sodium nitroprusside-induced dilation in resistance arteries was not significantly different between the A and BD groups. However, endothelin-1-induced constriction was significantly enhanced in the BD group compared with the A group (p = 0.032). No differences between groups were found in blood pressure, lipoproteins, and C-reactive protein.

CONCLUSIONS: Alterations in the macrocirculation and microcirculation may represent early clinical manifestations of cardiovascular risk in otherwise healthy young BD. This study has important clinical implications for screening young adults for a repeated history of binge drinking.

Additional Info

  • Authors

    Goslawski M.; Piano M.R.; Bian J.T.; Church E.C.; Szczurek M.; Phillips S.A.
  • Issue

    J.Am.Coll.Cardiol. / pages 201-207 / volume 62
  • Published Date

    16 july 2013