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Alcohol and Cardiovascular Function

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Brain and Heart Dynamics

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Abstract

The effects of alcohol consumption vary considerably and depend on the concentration and dose, together with various other factors, such as nutritional status, gender, and ethnicity. The present chapter analyzes the main medical consequences related to alcohol consumption on cardiovascular system. Low-to-moderate ethanol consumption has been linked to a reduced cardiovascular risk, with a J-shaped or U-shaped dose-response curve. However, alcohol intake has been associated with several cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, and stroke. In particular, chronic alcohol consumption induces several alterations in the cardiovascular system, including low-grade systemic inflammation, hyperuricemia, dyslipidemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, increased oxidative stress with enhanced lipid peroxidation, impaired glucose tolerance with insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, arterial hypertension, and alcoholic cardiomyopathy. From a clinical point of view, all the mentioned mechanisms are able to modify the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. In sum, although several studies have described a J-shaped or U-shaped curve to describe the relationship between alcohol intake and total and cardiovascular mortality, these studies have been observational and epidemiological in nature. Promoting alcohol for those who do not drink and/or the use of alcohol as a cardioprotective strategy is not recommended.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy

    Maria Margherita Rando, Luisa Sestito & Giovanni Addolorato

  2. Catholic University of Rome, Milan, Italy

    Maria Margherita Rando, Luisa Sestito & Giovanni Addolorato

  3. Department of Medical Sciences, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy

    Antonio Mirijello

Authors
  1. Maria Margherita Rando
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  2. Luisa Sestito
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  3. Antonio Mirijello
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  4. Giovanni Addolorato
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Giovanni Addolorato .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Drug Sciences, Pharmacology Sect, University of Pavia, Dept of Drug Sciences, Pharmacology Sect, Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Stefano Govoni

  2. Dept of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia Dept of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Pierluigi Politi

  3. Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Department of Molecular Medicine, Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Emilio Vanoli

Section Editor information

  1. Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino (NEUROFARBA), Sezione di Farmacologia e Tossicologia,, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Firenze, Italy

    Guido Mannaioni

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Rando, M.M., Sestito, L., Mirijello, A., Addolorato, G. (2020). Alcohol and Cardiovascular Function. In: Govoni, S., Politi, P., Vanoli, E. (eds) Brain and Heart Dynamics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90305-7_51-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90305-7_51-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-90305-7

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