The effects of repeated binge drinking on arterial stiffness and urinary norepinephrine levels in young adults

• Published in: Journal of hypertension Vol. 38; no. 1; p. 111
• Main Authors: Hwang, Chueh-Lung, Piano, Mariann R, Thur, Laurel A, Peters, Tara A, da Silva, Andréa Lúcia Gonçalves, Phillips, Shane A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.01.2020
• Subjects: Adult; Binge Drinking - epidemiology; Binge Drinking - physiopathology; Binge Drinking - urine; Humans; Norepinephrine - urine; Vascular Stiffness - physiology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1473-5598
• DOI: 10.1097/HJH.0000000000002223

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of repeated binge drinking and moderate alcohol consumption in young adults on arterial stiffness and sympathetic activity. We enrolled 49 healthy young adults, free of cardiovascular diseases (25 men; age: 23.5 ± 0.4 years; BMI: 23.4 ± 0.4 kg/m; mean ± S.E). Individuals included were those with a history of repeated binge drinking (>2 years duration; n = 20), drank at moderate levels (MODs, >5 years duration; n = 16) and abstained from alcohol (last 2-3 years; n = 13). Arterial stiffness was assessed using carotid to femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and sympathetic activity was assessed using 24-h urinary norepinephrine levels. Also measured was aortic SBP and augmentation index (AIx), a measure of wave reflection. Binge drinkers and MODs had higher cfPWV than alcohol abstainers (0.6 and 0.5 m/s, respectively; P ≤ 0.04). In addition, binge drinkers had higher urinary norepinephrine levels than MODs and alcohol abstainers (P < 0.05). Higher cfPWV were correlated with higher norepinephrine levels (r = 0.35. P = 0.02). Aortic SBP (P = 0.2) and AIx (P = 0.96) were similar among binge drinkers, MODs and alcohol abstainers. Our findings suggest that repeated exposure to alcohol, regardless of drinking pattern, may increase aortic arterial stiffness in healthy young adults. In addition, sympathetic activation, reflected by increased 24-h urinary norepinephrine levels, may contribute to alcohol-induced arterial stiffening in young adults.