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Clinical nutrition

Beer, wine consumption, and 10-year CVD incidence: the ATTICA study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 73, pages 1015–1023 (2019)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/objectives

Low/moderate alcohol consumption seems to be protective against cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study aimed to investigate the association of wine/beer consumption with the 10-year CVD incidence.

Subjects/methods

During 2001–2002, 3042 CVD-free adults consented to participate in the ATTICA study; of them 2583 completed the 10-year follow-up (85% participation rate), but precise information about fatal/nonfatal CVD incidence (myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, cardiac ischemia, heart failure, chronic arrhythmias, and stroke) was available in 2020 participants (overall retention rate 66%). Alcohol/ethanol intake and the alcoholic beverages consumed were assessed; participants were categorized into three groups (no use; ≤1 glass/week; >1 glass/week).

Results

Alcohol drinking was reported by 56% of the participants who did not develop a CVD event and 49% of those who had (p = 0.04); whereas ethanol intake was 14 ± 16 g among those who did not had an event vs. 21 ± 18 g among those who had a CVD event (p < 0.001). A strong inverse and similar association between low wine/beer intake (≤1 glass/week) and the risk of developing CVD was observed [HR: 0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.17–0.98; and HR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.20–0.93, respectively], as compared to abstention. No significant association was found in participants exceeding drinking 1 glass/week compared with abstainers. Compared to <2 g/day ethanol intake, participants who reported 2–10, 10–20, and >20 g/day had CVD-risk HRs (95% CI) of 0.60 (0.40–0.98), 1.22 (0.60–1.14), and 1.81 (0.70–4.61), respectively.

Conclusions

This study revealed similar results of low wine/beer consumption against CVD incidence, mainly due to its implication on low-grade chronic inflammation.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the ATTICA study group of investigators: Yannis Skoumas, Natasa Katinioti, Labros Papadimitriou, Constantina Masoura, Spiros Vellas, Yannis Lentzas, Manolis Kambaxis, Konstanitna Paliou, Vassiliki Metaxa, Agathi Ntzouvani, Dimitris Mpougatas, Nikolaos Skourlis, Christina Papanikolaou, Aikaterini Kalogeropoulou, Evangelia Pitaraki, Alexandros Laskaris, Mihail Hatzigeorgiou and Athanasios Grekas, and Eleni Kokkou for either assistance in the initial physical examination and follow-up evaluation, Efi Tsetsekou for her assistance in psychological evaluation and follow-up evaluation, as well as the laboratory team: Carmen Vassiliadou and George Dedousis (genetic analysis), Marina Toutouza-Giotsa, Constantina Tselika, and Sia Poulopouloou (biochemical analysis) and Maria Toutouza for database management.

Funding

D.B. Panagiotakos and E. Georgousopoulou received research grants by Coca-Cola SA. The ATTICA study has been funded by research grants from the Hellenic Cardiology Society and the Hellenic Atherosclerosis Society.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education Harokopio University, Athens, Greece

    Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos, Georgia-Maria Kouli, Emmanuela Magriplis, Ioannis Kyrou, Ekavi N. Georgousopoulou & Constantine Tsigos

  2. Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia

    Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos & Ekavi N. Georgousopoulou

  3. Aston Medical Research Institute, Aston Medical School, Aston University, B4 7ET, Birmingham, UK

    Ioannis Kyrou

  4. WISDEM, University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, CV2 2DX, Coventry, UK

    Ioannis Kyrou

  5. Translational & Experimental Medicine, Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, CV4 7AL, Coventry, UK

    Ioannis Kyrou

  6. First Cardiology Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Christina Chrysohoou, Dimitrios Tousoulis & Christos Pitsavos

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  1. Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos
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  2. Georgia-Maria Kouli
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Correspondence to Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos.

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Panagiotakos, D.B., Kouli, GM., Magriplis, E. et al. Beer, wine consumption, and 10-year CVD incidence: the ATTICA study. Eur J Clin Nutr 73, 1015–1023 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-018-0296-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-018-0296-6

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