Authors' objectives: We conducted a review of high methodological quality systematic reviews that summarize the available evidence regarding the relationship between the consumption of alcoholic beverages (spirits, wine, beer) and the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Authors' recommendations: We identified five reviews of high quality; four examined alcohol intake and risk of CVD, and one examined relationships between alcohol intake and biomarkers thought to be associated with CVD risk. Based on the selected documentation, we conclude that in otherwise healthy persons and compared to no alcohol intake: •daily intake of 100 g alcohol severely increased the risks of hemmoragic stroke (RR 4.7; CI 3.35 to 6.59) and hypertension (RR 4.15; CI 3.13 to 5.52), and probably also the risk of ischemic stroke (RR 4.37; CI 2.28 to 8.37). •daily intake of 50 g alcohol probably increased the risks of hemmoragic stroke (RR 1.82; CI 1.46 to 2.82) and hypertension (RR 2.04; CI 1.77 to 2.35). •daily intake of 25 g alcohol probably increased the risk of hypertension (RR 1.43; CI 1.33 to 1.53). •daily intake of 24 g (RR 1.07; CI 1.04 to 1.10), 60 g (RR 1.42; CI 1.23 to 1.64) and 120 g (RR 2.02; CI 1.60 to 2.97) alcohol probably increased the risk of atrial fibrillation. •daily intake of 24 g (RR 1.08; CI 1.04 to 1.11), 60 g (RR 1.44; CI 1.23 to 1.69) and 120 g (RR 2.02; CI 1.52 to 2.86) alcohol probably increased the risk of atrial fibrillation. It was not possible, based on these reviews, to identify for how long exposure to these alcohol intake levels had been ongoing, - days, months or years, nor whether different age groups had different risks. 100 g alcohol ≈ 8 glasses of wine 12 vol% or 8 bottles of 33 cl beer 4.5 vol%. We have very little confidence in the effect estimates from the systematic reviews concerning whether alcohol intake modified the risks of coronary heart disease or coronary death, death from stroke, or the risk of atrial fibrillation. Although the mechanisms are not well established, we have chosen to present a review which examines realtionships between alcohol intake and levels of biomarkers thought to be associated with CVD risk. The documentation showed that daily intake of alcohol probably gave a slight advantage on HDL–cholesterol and on fibrinogen levels.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2013

URL for published report: http://www.kunnskapssenteret.no/publikasjoner/sammenhengen-mellom-inntak-av-alkoholholdige-drikker-og-risiko-for-hjerte-og-karsykdom?threepage=1

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Norway

Organisation Name: Norwegian Institute of Public Health

Contact Address: Universitetsgata 2, Postbox 7004 St. Olavs plass, NO-0310 Oslo NORWAY. Tel: +47 23 25 50 00; Fax: +47 23 25 50 10;

Contact Name: Berit.Morland@nokc.no, dagny.fredheim@nokc.no

Contact Email: Berit.Morland@nokc.no, dagny.fredheim@nokc.no

Copyright: Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services (NOKC)