The J-shaped Alcohol Curve – Again

We’ve reported repeatedly that no alcohol isn’t as good for you as one or two drinks a day, but that when you exceed this amount the risks increase again. This has led to the use of the term “J-shaped curve” – the risk level (measured on the left) goes down with 1-2 drinks a day, but then rises quite a lot with more than 3 through 8 a day, or more. And the risk referred to is a cardiac event risk – heart attack, sudden cardiac death, or stroke.

Now a study from Japan has reinforced the concept. Researchers measured the amount of calcification in the coronary arteries, using CAT scan, and analyzed their findings in relation to alcohol consumption. The subjects were 245 men between 40 and 49 with no history of cardiovascular disease. They found a J-shaped curve, too.

For 1 to 22 grams of alcohol a day the frequency of subjects with coronary calcification was about halved compared to that in non-drinkers. From 23 to 45 grams a day, the frequency dropped to about 1 in 4 or 5. But from 23 to 45 grams a day it rose to 1½ times the frequency, and up to more than 3¾ times the frequency for over 69 grams a day. Not sure what the Japanese ‘grams’ translate into? It’s similar to the cardiac risk in man – one to two drinks a day is OK (i.e. good), but more, or less, is bad.

This is not the first report of its kind. The scientists reporting on the Rotterdam Study of Aging have found a similar effect of alcohol on coronary artery calcification. Maybe US scientists will get around to looking at this aspect too, one day.