Dose-related effects of red wine and alcohol on hemodynamics, sympathetic nerve activity, and arterial diameter

Abstract

The cardiovascular benefits of light to moderate red wine consumption often have been attributed to its polyphenol constituents. However, the acute dose-related hemodynamic, vasodilator, and sympathetic neural effects of ethanol and red wine have not been characterized and compared in the same individual. We sought to test the hypotheses that responses to one and two alcoholic drinks differ and that red wine with high polyphenol content elicits a greater effect than ethanol alone. Thirteen volunteers (24-47 yr; 7 men, 6 women) drank wine, ethanol, and water in a randomized, single-blind trial on three occasions 2 wk apart. One drink of wine and ethanol increased blood alcohol to 38 +/- 2 and 39 +/- 2 mg/dl, respectively, and two drinks to 72 +/- 4 and 83 +/- 3 mg/dl, respectively. Wine quadrupled plasma resveratrol (P < 0.001) and increased catechin (P < 0.03). No intervention affected blood pressure. One drink had no heart rate effect, but two drinks of wine increased heart rate by 5.7 +/- 1.6 beats/min; P < 0.001). Cardiac output fell 0.8 +/- 0.3 l/min after one drink of ethanol and wine (both P < 0.02) but increased after two drinks of ethanol (+0.8 +/- 0.3 l/min) and wine (+1.2 +/- 0.3 l/min) (P < 0.01). One alcoholic drink did not alter muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), while two drinks increased MSNA by 9-10 bursts/min (P < 0.001). Brachial artery diameter increased after both one and two alcoholic drinks (P < 0.001). No beverage augmented, and the second wine dose attenuated (P = 0.02), flow-mediated vasodilation. One drink of ethanol dilates the brachial artery without activating sympathetic outflow, whereas two drinks increase MSNA, heart rate, and cardiac output. These acute effects, which exhibit a narrow dose response, are not modified by red wine polyphenols.

Differential Influences of Ethanol on Early Exposure to Racemic Methylphenidate Compared with Dexmethylphenidate in Humans

“…In addition, this cardiovascular response may be attributable to additive catecholaminergic influences of MPH and ethanol. The dose of ethanol used in the present study has been reported to elevate heart rate by 5.7 beats/min (Spaak et al, 2008). Similarly, combining ethanol with cocaine has been shown to significantly elevate heart rate in humans compared with cocaine alone (Herbst et al, 2011).…”

Alcohol, wine, and vascular diseases: an abundance of paradoxes

“…An overactive sympathetic nervous system exists during the alcohol withdrawal state but is felt unlikely to be the explanation for the alcohol-HTN relation at the drinking levels seen in the studies (6,10). The intervention in the present study (13) did not affect blood pressure immediately. While it is possible that blood pressure measurement the next morning might have demonstrated an effect, the doses of alcohol involved in the experiment may have been too small to show a relationship.…”

“…However, none of the effects described by Spaak et al (13) would logically explain the protection against acute CAD events usually seen among persons ingesting one or two drinks per day.…”

Wine and Health: A Review

“…Studies with humans subjects have found that moderate red wine consumption over the course of a month either did not change or increased both systolic blood pressure and heart rate, which was attributed to the alcohol content (Hansen et al 2005, Zilkens et al 2005. Another study found that one drink of red wine had vasorelaxing effects, whereas two drinks had the opposite effect (Spaak et al 2008). Moderate to heavy alcohol consumption has been associated with increased blood pressure.…”