Alcohol consumption and hemostatic factors Analysis of the Framingham Offspring cohort

Background-Moderate alcohol consumers have lower rates of cardiovascular di sease than abstainers. One proposed mechanism is a beneficial effect on hem ostatic parameters, but previous studies have provided conflicting results. Methods and Results-We measured levels of fibrinogen, plasma viscosity, von Willebrand factor, factor VII, plasminogen activator inhibitor antigen-1, and tissue plasminogen activator antigen in a cross-sectional analysis of 3 223 adults free of cardiovascular disease enrolled in the Framingham Offspr ing Study. We assessed their alcohol consumption with a standardized questi onnaire. Light-to-moderate alcohol consumption was associated with lower le vels of fibrinogen, plasma viscosity, von Willebrand factor, and factor VII . This association was most pronounced for consumers of 3 to 7 drinks weekl y for viscosity and 7 to 21 drinks weekly for the other hemostatic measures . Alcohol intake of 7 to 21 drinks weekly or more was associated with impai red fibrinolytic potential, reflected by higher levels of plasminogen activ ator inhibitor antigen-1 and tissue plasminogen activator antigen. Wine dri nkers had lower plasminogen activator inhibitor antigen-1 levels than other drinkers, particularly at 3 to 21 drinks weekly, but beverage type did not otherwise consistently affect the results. Conclusions-Light-to-moderate alcohol consumption is associated with lower levels of coagulatory factors, but higher intake is associated with impaire d fibrinolytic potential. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that a balance between hemostatic and fibrinolytic activity may contribute to the complex relation of alcohol use with coronary heart disease.