A recent research published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology unveiled a potentially significant relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk of developing peripheral artery disease (PAD), where narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs. The study combined new cohort data with a meta-analysis of existing research and suggests that light to moderate drinking could be associated with a reduced risk of PAD which is contrasting strongly with risks associated with high levels of alcohol consumption.

The comprehensive study involved data analysis from two large groups that consisted of 70,116 Swedish and 405,406 British adults who were coupled with results from previous studies. According to the findings of this study, a U-shaped association was observed which indicated that both abstention and high alcohol intake might increase the PAD risk with moderate consumption showing potential protective effects.
The key findings suggest that individuals who consume alcohol lightly (≤2 drinks per week) appear to have the reduced risk of developing PAD, with a relative risk reduction at 17% when compared to non-drinkers. This risk becomes significantly pronounced with higher levels of alcohol consumption for the individuals who consume 10 or more drinks per week.
The meta-analysis included additional observational studies that confirmed the U-shaped curve with a significant statistical nonlinearity (P < 0.001) by indicating that the relationship between alcohol consumption and PAD risk is not straightforward but varies with the amount of alcohol consumed.
The results could redefine the existing guidelines for alcohol consumption in relation to vascular health for the individuals at risk of or managing PAD. While light to moderate alcohol intake could potentially be advised as part of lifestyle modifications for at-risk populations, the clear risks associated with higher levels of drinking are also poorly underlined.
These findings pertain specifically to PAD and may not necessarily apply to other health conditions or the overall health impact of alcohol that can be detrimental in various other respects. Also, the outcomes emphasized the continuity of these links across different types of observational studies which supports the robustness of the results despite potential limitations in this observational research. Overall, the study adds an crucial dimension to our understanding of the complex interactions between lifestyle factors like alcohol intake and specific health outcomes such as PAD.
Source:
Yuan, S., Wu, J., Chen, J., Sun, Y., Burgess, S., Li, X., Åkesson, A., & Larsson, S. C. (2024). Association between alcohol consumption and peripheral artery disease: two de novo prospective cohorts and a systematic review with meta-analysis. In European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. Oxford University Press (OUP). https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwae142