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Moderate alcohol consumption and levels of antioxidant vitamins and isoprostanes in postmenopausal women

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 59, pages 161–168 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Background: Although alcohol intake has been positively associated with breast cancer risk in epidemiologic studies, the mechanisms mediating this association are speculative.

Objective: The Postmenopausal Women's Alcohol Study was designed to explore the effects of moderate alcohol consumption on potential risk factors for breast cancer. In the present analysis, we evaluated the relationship of alcohol consumption with antioxidant nutrients and a biomarker of oxidative stress.

Design: Participants (n=53) consumed a controlled diet plus each of three treatments (15 or 30 g alcohol/day or a no-alcohol placebo beverage), during three 8-week periods in random order. We measured the antioxidants, vitamin E (alpha (α)- and gamma (γ)-tocopherols), selenium, and vitamin C in fasting blood samples which were collected at the end of diet periods, treated and frozen for assay at the end of the study. We also measured 15-F2t-IsoP isoprostane, produced by lipid peroxidation, which serves as an indicator of oxidative stress and may serve as a biomarker for conditions favorable to carcinogenesis.

Results: After adjusting for BMI (all models) and total serum cholesterol (tocopherol and isoprostane models) we observed a significant 4.6% decrease (P=0.02) in α-tocopherol and a marginally significant 4.9% increase (P=0.07) in isoprostane levels when women consumed 30 g alcohol/day (P=0.06 and 0.05 for overall effect of alcohol on α-tocopherol and isoprostanes, respectively). The other antioxidants were not significantly modified by the alcohol treatment.

Conclusions: These results suggest that moderate alcohol consumption increases some biomarkers of oxidative stress in postmenopausal women.

Sponsorship: NCI, NIH and ARS, USDA.

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Acknowledgements

The participation of study subjects from the areas around Beltsville, MD is greatly appreciated. Funding for this research was made available by the NCI, NIH and ARS, USDA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    T J Hartman

  2. Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA

    T J Hartman, P S Albert, W S Campbell & P R Taylor

  3. USDA Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Beltsville, MD, USA

    D J Baer, B A Clevidence, W S Campbell & J T Judd

  4. Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA

    L B Graham, C E Parker & K B Tomer

  5. East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA

    W L Stone

  6. The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, Atlanta, GA, USA

    E W Gunter

  7. Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    J F Dorgan

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Correspondence to T J Hartman.

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Guarantor: TJ Hartman.

Contributors: PRT was the overall principal investigator for the parent study, JTJ and DJB were coprincipal investigators, and WSC was the research nurse and project coordinator. TJH formulated the present hypotheses. PRT, TJH, DJB, JTJ, JFD, BAC, WSC, and PAL contributed to the study design and data collection. LBG, CEP, WLS, EWG, and KBT were responsible for the biomarker analyses, which were conducted at three laboratories. TJH, PSA, and PRT contributed to the statistical analysis. TJH, EWG, WLS, CEP, KBT, PSA, DJB, JTJ, JFD, and PRT contributed to interpretation of the results. TJH was responsible for writing the report.

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Hartman, T., Baer, D., Graham, L. et al. Moderate alcohol consumption and levels of antioxidant vitamins and isoprostanes in postmenopausal women. Eur J Clin Nutr 59, 161–168 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602051

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