BMJ 1994;309:275-276 (23 July)

Letters

Alcohol and blood pressure

EDITOR, - The INTERSALT group addressed the relation between alcohol intake and blood pressure and advocates a reduction in population mean alcohol intake. It concludes, "Overall, the data indicate the usefulness of an approach targeting those at high risk as well as the general population to reduce the adverse effects of alcohol on blood pressure."1 The group also states that a reduction in systolic blood pressure of 5 mm Hg achieved by "favourable lifestyle changes" would reduce coronary mortality by 9%. Although agreeing with this statement in general, I doubt whether it applies to reductions in pressure achieved by limiting alcohol consumption.

Men who are light to moderate drinkers (consuming 1-299 ml/week) may reduce their blood pressure by 1 mm Hg by stopping drinking, but epidemiological evidence suggests that their coronary mortality may increase by up to 10%2 Male drinkers consuming >=300 ml/week may experience a 4 mm Hg fall . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Article

Alcohol and blood pressure: the INTERSALT study
M G Marmot, P Elliott, M J Shipley, A R Dyer, H U Ueshima, D G Beevers, R Stamler, H Kesteloot, G Rose, and J Stamler
BMJ 1994 308: 1263-1267. [Abstract] [Full Text]

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