Alcohol consumption and circulating markers of inflammation
Volpato, S.; Fellin, R.
Recenti Progressi in Medicina 96(2): 102-107
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0034-1193 PMID: 15844772 Document Number: 589687
Atherosclerosis, the leading cause of death in western countries, is a multifactiorial condition in which a local and low-grade inflammatory response plays an important role. Elevation in markers of inflammation prospectively defines risk of atherosclerotic complications and predicts all-cause mortality. Alcohol consumption has been related with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular risk with a J-shaped relationship, suggesting that alcohol consumption might have an antiinflammatory effect. This review assesses the current state of knowledge regarding the immunomodulatory effect of moderate alcohol consumption.