OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between alcohol consumption and risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

METHODSTwo hundreds and twenty six subjects were enrolled in the study and grouped to non-drinkers, mild drinkers, moderate drinkers and heavy drinkers. Serum GGT, hs-CRP, %CDT, HCY, lipoprotein were measured in all groups.

RESULTThere were significantly higher GGT levels with heavy drinkers than those with other groups (P <0.05), and GGT levels were increased with increasing alcohol intake; and there were significantly higher %CDT levels with heavy drinkers compared with those with no-drinkers; there was significant higher hs-CRP levels with heavy drinkers compared with those with mild and moderate drinkers (P<0.05); but in moderate drinkers there was significantly lower hs-CRP levels than non drinkers (P<0.05). Compared with non-drinkers, there were significantly lower LDL-C and TG levels with mild and moderate drinkers. There were no significant differences in CHOL, HDL-C, HCY, WBC, MCV levels among all groups. Heavy drinkers had higher smoking rate and higher prevalence of hypertension (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONHeavy alcohol consumption results in increasing GGT,%CDT and hs-CRP and may increase cardiovascular disease risk along with other risk factors.Mild to moderate alcohol consumption is associated with lower hs-CRP concentration,which may protect the cardiovascular system through anti-inflammatory mechanism.