Influence of alcohol consumption and smoking habits on cardiovascular risk factors and antioxidant status in healthy men

Jang, Yang Soo; Kim, Oh Yeon; Kwon, Sock Ju; Lee, Jong Ho; Chung, Nam Sik; Lee, Hyun Chul; Huh, Kap Bum

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Upper-body fat distribution, hyperhomocysteinemia and a depletion in antioxidant status are considered risk factors for atherosclerosis and these factors are related to alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of alcohol consumption and smoking habits on cardiovascular risk factors in healthy men by using a cross-sectional design.
METHODS
Smokers were defined as heavy smokers when they smoked more than 15 cigarettes per day. Group subdivision of drinkers were none, moderate (10-25g alcohol/d) and heavy(>25g alcohol/d) alcohol consumption. Subjects were divided into 6 groups: nondrinker-nonsmoker(n=33), nondrinker-heavy smoker (n=11), moderate drinker-nonsmoker (n=46), moderate drinker- heavy smoker(n=33), heavy drinker-nonsmoker (n=14) and heavy drinker-heavy smoker(n=15). Adipose tissue and muscle areas were calculated from computed tomography scans made at four body levels, first and forth lumbar vertebrae, mid portion of thigh and calf. Fasting serum levels of lipids, proteins, hormones and antioxidants and plasma level of homocysteine were determined.
RESULTS
Heavy drinker-heavy smokers showed similar intake of daily calorie and protein to other groups and 65% of them supplemented their diet with synthetic vitamin preparation. Heavy drinker-nonsmokers(36g/d) consumed nearly twice as much alcohol as moderate drinkers(16-18g/d) and heavy drinker-heavy smokers (53g/d) nearly three times as much. In comparison with non and moderate drinker-heavy smokers, heavy drinker-heavy smokers smoked more cigarettes(19 vs 26 cigarettes/d, p<0.05). Although there were no differences among 6 groups in means of age, body mass index, blood pressure and serum GOT and GPT levels, heavy drinkers showed the highest mean value of waist to hip ratio and subcutaneous fat area at first and forth lumbar vertebrae. Heavy drinker-heavy smokers showed higher serum levels of triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol but lower serum levels of transferrin and IGF-1, compared with nondrinkers. Plasma homocysteine level was higher in heavy drinker-heavy smokers than in nondrinker- nonsmokers. Serum levels of beta-carotene, cryptoxanthin and lycopene in heavy smokers or heavy drinkers showed a decrease by about 50% of those in men who did not drink and smoke and these levels were the lowest in heavy drinker-heavy smokers among 6 groups.
CONCLUSION
Our results show that heavy alcohol consumption can result in abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia and a decrease in serum carotenoid levels, even though it can cause an increase in HDL-cholesterol level. In addition, a further decrease in serum carotenoids and an increase in plasma homocysteine level in heavy drinker-heavy smokers indicate the increased risk for atherosclerosis in the simultaneous heavy consumption of alcohol and cigarette.