Cardiovascular disease and alcohol consumption: Current evidence

Abstract

Alcohol consumption is ubiquitous in all human societies, intimately imbricated in numerous cultures. This transcendence often obscures its true impact on health at a small and large scale. Alcohol exerts deleterious effects in various organ systems, being a well-known harm for the functioning of the mind-brain, as well as the gastrointestinal, endocrine-metabolic, immunologic, reproductive, and cardiovascular systems, among others. In particular, the effect of alcohol on the cardiovascular health-disease spectrum has been of special scientific and general interest. Classically, a J-shaped curve has been associated with the correlation between alcohol intake and cardiovascular mortality. This reflects an association of lower mortality with low and moderate doses, and the tendency of cardiovascular risk (CVR) to increase progressively with heavier forms of consumption. Nevertheless, in recent years, emergent evidence has placed doubt on the robustness and ubiquity of this type of link between alcohol and CVR. Considering the ever-present characteristic of alcohol in all demographics, it is understandable that this relationship would raise unprecedented degrees of scientific and general controversy and interest; especially surrounding reports describing some benefit for moderate alcohol intake. However, in light of more recent evidence, this precept becomes much less consolidated. This review summarizes and discusses novel findings regarding the relationship between alcohol and the development of cardiovascular disease. © 2019, Sociedad Venezolana de Farmacologia y de Farmacologia Clinica y Terapeutica.