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A new study published online in Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research on Nov. 24, 2024, reveals a U-shaped association between alcohol consumption and two major cardiometabolic conditions: coronary heart disease (CHD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the study also concludes that there is no causal link between alcohol intake and the development of these diseases.
The study, led by Dr. Rachel L. Kember from Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Philadelphia, examined data from two retrospective nested case-control studies involving a total of 33,053 CHD cases and 28,278 T2D cases. Participants were matched with five controls each from a multi-ancestry population, including African Americans (AAs), European Americans (EAs), and Hispanic Americans (HAs).
The researchers employed both observational analysis and Mendelian randomization techniques to assess the association between alcohol consumption and the incidence of CHD and T2D. Alcohol consumption was quantified using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) score, which captures the frequency and quantity of alcohol intake. For the Mendelian randomization analysis, the study utilized genetic data, including a single variant in the ADH1B gene and a genetic score, as instrumental variables.
The findings revealed a U-shaped association between alcohol consumption and both CHD and T2D risk, suggesting that moderate alcohol intake might be linked to lower risks of these conditions, while excessive drinking and abstention are associated with higher risks. However, when examining genetic proxies for alcohol consumption, the study found no causal relationship between alcohol intake and either CHD or T2D in any of the ancestry groups studied. Furthermore, multivariable Mendelian randomization analyses that adjusted for potential confounders, such as blood pressure and smoking, showed no association between alcohol consumption and the two diseases.
“Our results suggest that, as has been shown in larger population groups, there are no beneficial effects of moderate alcohol consumption on cardiometabolic disease,” said Dr. Kember and her team in the study’s conclusion.
While the study did not find a causal link, the researchers emphasized the complexity of alcohol’s effects on health, noting the U-shaped relationship observed in the observational data. This suggests that factors such as genetics and lifestyle may play an important role in shaping individual risk.
One of the authors disclosed ties to relevant organizations. The findings underscore the need for further research to better understand the relationship between alcohol consumption and cardiometabolic diseases, particularly in diverse populations.
For more details, see the full study: A Mendelian Randomization Study of Alcohol Use and Cardiometabolic Disease Risk in a Multi-Ancestry Population from the Million Veteran Program by Rachel L. Kember et al., Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research (2024). DOI: 10.1111/acer.15445.
