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The Effect of Alcohol on Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Is There New Information?

2020; Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute; Volume: 12; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3390/nu12040912

2072-6643

Simona Minzer, Ricardo A. Losno, Rosa Casas,

Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

The effects of alcohol on cardiovascular health are heterogeneous and vary according to consumption dose and pattern. These effects have classically been described as having a J-shaped curve, in which low-to-moderate consumption is associated with less risk than lifetime abstention, and heavy drinkers show the highest risk. Nonetheless, the beneficial effects of alcohol have been questioned due to the difficulties in establishing a safe drinking threshold. This review focuses on the association between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular risk factors and the underlying mechanisms of damage, with review of the literature from the last 10 years.