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ABSTRACT: Resveratrol, a representative polyphenol compound, is known to have antiatherogenic effects through its various actions including an anti-inflammatory action. The processes of initiation and progression of atherosclerosis are mediated by proinflammatory cytokines. The aim of this study was to determine whether resveratrol affects cytokine production in human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (HCASMCs). Each cytokine concentration in the culture medium of HCASMCs was measured by flow cytometry using the cytometric bead array system, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activity was evaluated by Western blotting. Basal levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-8 were significantly decreased in the presence of resveratrol at 1-50 μM in a concentration-dependent manner and were significantly decreased in the presence of U0126, an ERK inhibitor. Resveratrol significantly decreased both basal and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) (200 ng/ml)-stimulated levels of MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-8 and significantly attenuated both basal and IFN-γ-stimulated activity of ERK. TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10, and IL-12p70 were detected only as trace levels in the culture medium with or without IFN-γ. Therefore, resveratrol is thought to inhibit production of MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-8 in HCASMCs through attenuating ERK activity. Inhibition of cytokine production in coronary artery smooth muscle cells may in part explain antiatherogenic action of resveratrol.
Archiv für Experimentelle Pathologie und Pharmakologie 05/2013; · 2.65 Impact Factor
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Hypertension Research 01/2013; 36(1):89. · 2.58 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) is U-shaped, whereas alcohol drinking is linearly associated with blood pressure, and the CVD risk also increases linearly according to blood pressure level. Accordingly, we investigated the net effect of alcohol consumption and hypertension on CVD and its subtypes in this study. A 13-year prospective study of 2033 Japanese men who were free from CVD was performed; ex-drinkers were excluded. The participants were divided into eight groups classified by the combination of the presence of hypertension (systolic/diastolic blood pressure 140/90 mm Hg) and alcohol consumption (never-, current- (light, moderate and heavy) drinkers). Multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for the incidence of CVD, coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke due to the combination of hypertension and alcohol consumption were calculated and compared with non-hypertensive never-drinkers. The HRs for CVD and its subtypes were higher in hypertensives than those in non-hypertensives; in hypertensives without medication for hypertension, the relationship between alcohol consumption and the risks for CVD and CAD was U-shaped, with the highest and most significant increase in never-drinkers. The risk for total stroke was the highest in heavy-drinkers, which was significant. In non-hypertensives, there was no evident increase or decrease in the HRs for CVD and its subtypes in drinkers. Accordingly, controlling blood pressure is important to prevent CVD. In hypertensives, heavy drinking should be avoided to prevent CVD, although light-to-moderate drinking could be protective for CAD. Furthermore, in non-hypertensives, drinkers may need to continuously monitor their blood pressure.Hypertension Research advance online publication, 30 August 2012; doi:10.1038/hr.2012.133.
Hypertension Research 08/2012; · 2.58 Impact Factor
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Aya Higashiyama, Ichiro Wakabayashi,
Yoshimi Kubota,
Yoshiko Adachi,
Akiko Hayashibe,
Kunihiro Nishimura,
Daisuke Sugiyama,
Aya Kadota,
Hironori Imano,
Naomi Miyamatsu,
Yoshihiro Miyamoto,
Tomonori Okamura
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ABSTRACT: Aim: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) identifies individuals at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) without an increased level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). The present study was performed to compare hs-CRP and LDL-C in association with the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) in Japanese community dwellers considered to be at low risk for atherosclerosis from their level of traditional CVD risk factors.Methods: A community-based study involving 386 healthy Japanese (261 men and 125 women) without a history of CVD and medications for hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia was performed. Multiple adjustments were performed with linear regression models to estimate the association between CAVI and hs-CRP or LDL-C levels. The participants were divided into four groups on the basis of whether they were above or below the median hs-CRP and LDL-C values, and CAVI was compared among the four groups by analysis of covariance after adjusting for confounders.Results: In multiple linear regression models, hs-CRP showed a significant positive association with CAVI; however, no clear association was observed between CAVI and LDL-C. These results were similar in the analyses among the participants with LDL-C <140 mg/dL or hs-CRP <1.0 mg/L. CAVI was higher in the groups with high hs-CRP than in those with low hs-CRP, irrespective of LDL-C; however, CAVI was highest in the group with high LDL-C and high hs-CRP.Conclusions: The present study suggests that hs-CRP could be a better risk factor assessor for atherosclerosis than LDL-C in individuals considered to be at low risk for atherosclerosis assessed by their traditional CVD risk factors.
Journal of atherosclerosis and thrombosis 07/2012; · 2.69 Impact Factor
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Ichiro Wakabayashi
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ABSTRACT: Obesity is a main risk factor in metabolic syndrome. Gender is known to influence the risk of obesity and other cardiovascular risk factors. However, it remains to be determined whether there is a gender-specific difference in the relationship between obesity and accumulation of other cardiometabolic risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes.
The aim of this study was to determine whether the association between obesity and a cluster of other cardiometabolic risk factors is modified by gender.
The subjects were 17,791 Japanese men and women who were divided into younger (35-40 years) and older (60-70 years) age groups. The relationships between obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥25 kg/m(2) or waist-to-height ratio [WHtR] ≥0.5) and multiple cardiometabolic risk factors (≥2 of the risk factors of high blood pressure, dyslipidema, and hyperglycemia) were compared between men and women in each age group.
In the younger group, the crude odds ratios (ORs) for multiple cardiometabolic risk factors in obese versus nonobese subjects were significantly higher in women than in men (BMI: 6.23 [range, 5.53-7.02] in men vs 16.63 [range, 12.37-22.37] in women, P < 0.01; WHtR: 6.04 [range, 5.36-6.81] in men vs 9.77 [range, 7.14-13.37] in women, P < 0.01), whereas this difference was not found in the older group (BMI: 3.03 [range, 2.69-3.42] in men vs 2.92 [range, 2.33-3.67] in women P = 0.076; WHtR: 3.11 [range, 2.78-3.47] in men vs 2.50 [range, 2.02-3.09] in women, P < 0.05). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, the ORs for multiple cardiometabolic risk factors after adjusting for age, smoking, alcohol consumption, and regular exercise in subjects with versus subjects without a large waist circumference tended to be higher in women than in men in the younger group but not in the older group. The ORs of the interaction term consisting of gender and each adiposity index for multiple cardiometabolic risk factors were significantly higher than a reference level of 1.00 in the younger group (BMI: 2.68 [range, 1.95-3.69], P < 0.01; WHtR: 1.62 [range, 1.16-2.27], P < 0.01) but not in the older group (BMI: 0.95 [range, 0.74-1.23], P = 0.712; WHtR: 0.80 [range, 0.63-1.02], P = 0.066).
The results suggest that the association between obesity and a cluster of cardiometabolic risk factors is stronger in women than in men, and this gender-specific difference exists in younger (35-40 years) but not in older (60-70 years) individuals.
Gender Medicine 06/2012; 9(4):267-77. · 2.10 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to determine whether diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) is involved in transplasmalemmal Ca²⁺ influx of platelets.
Effects of R59949, an inhibitor of diacylglycerol kinase, on intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺](i) ) and mRNA expression of DGK isozymes were investigated using washed human platelet suspensions.
Thrombin-induced increase in [Ca²⁺](i) was significantly inhibited by pretreatment of platelets with R59949, while thapsigargin-induced increase in [Ca²⁺](i) was comparable in platelets with and without R59949 pretreatment. Thapsigargin-induced increase in [Ca²⁺](i) was markedly attenuated in the presence of SKF-96365. In the presence of SKF-96365, thrombin-induced increase in [Ca²⁺](i) was significantly attenuated, and additional treatment with R59949 caused a further decrease in [Ca²⁺](i) . Pretreatment of platelets with 1-butanol significantly attenuated thrombin-induced increase in [Ca²⁺](i) , while thrombin-induced increase in [Ca²⁺](i) was augmented in the presence of propranolol. mRNA expression of DGK-α and DGK-γ, which are known to be inhibited by R59949, in platelets was confirmed by RT-PCR analysis.
R59949 inhibited a store-depletion-insensitive component of transplasmalemmal Ca²⁺ entry induced by thrombin, while store-operated Ca²⁺ entry was not affected by R59949. The results of this study suggest that phosphatidic acid is involved in thrombin-induced Ca²⁺ influx of platelets.
The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology. 06/2012; 64(6):855-61.
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to clarify the role of diacylglycerol kinase (DGK)γ in vascular endothelial cells. The mRNA and protein expression of DGKγ and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in rat aortic endothelial cells (RAECs) were investigated using RT-PCR, immunocytochemical, and immunoblot analyses. In RAECs, immunoreactivity of DGKγ was detected in the cytoplasm as a tubular or reticular structure. DGKγ immunoreactivity colocalized with those for GM130 and Golgin 97 but not with that for protein disulfide isomerase (PDI). In the presence of brefeldin A, DGKγ immunoreactivity was markedly decreased and displayed an aggregation-like pattern. After treatment of RAECs with nocodazole, DGKγ immunoreactivity was detected in Golgi stacks, which were severely segmented and appeared in vesicular shape. Stimulation with IL-1β increased mRNA expression of DGKγ, which was strongly attenuated by SB203580, a p38 MAPK inhibitor. IL-1β also induced expression of iNOS, which was observed as a tubular structure, and this distribution coincided with DGKγ immunoreactivity. Brefeldin A reduced both iNOS immunoreactivity and DGKγ immunoreactivity. iNOS expression was impaired by DGK inhibitors, R59022 and R59949. These results suggest that DGKγ is upregulated by IL-1β through the p38 MAPK pathway and may be involved in protein trafficking of iNOS in vascular endothelial cells.
Archiv für Experimentelle Pathologie und Pharmakologie 05/2012; 385(8):787-95. · 2.65 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationships of cardiovascular risk factors with prehypertension and hypertension in women. Japanese women (35-54 years old, n = 9939) were divided by blood pressure into normotensive, prehypertensive and hypertensive groups. Odds ratios (ORs) for prehypertension and hypertension were calculated after adjustment for confounding factors such as age, smoking, alcohol intake, habitual exercise, body mass index (BMI), and/or therapy for dyslipidemia or diabetes. ORs of light drinkers and heavy drinkers vs non-drinkers for prehypertension and hypertension were significantly higher than a reference level of 1.00, whereas ORs for prehypertension and hypertension of smokers vs non-smokers were significantly lower than the reference level. ORs of the obese group (high BMI or waist-to-height ratio) vs the non-obese group for prehypertension and hypertension were significantly higher than the reference level. ORs for prehypertension and hypertension of the subject group with vs without high triglycerides or low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol were significantly higher than the reference level. Thus, obesity, alcohol drinking and dyslipidemias such as high triglycerides and high LDL-cholesterol are associated with prehypertension and hypertension in women. Interventional studies on whether correction of obesity and dyslipidemias and restriction of alcohol consumption are beneficial for prevention of prehypertension and hypertension in women need to be carried out.
Blood pressure 05/2012; · 1.26 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Proinflammatory cytokine production by a skewed T cell compartment has been shown to be elevated in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, it is unknown whether humoral immune response controlled by lymphocytes is altered in T2D.
Lymphocyte populations and immunoglobulin production were investigated in Goto-Kakizaki (G-K) rat, which is a genetic experimental model for T2D, and Wistar rat as a control. Each lymphocyte population was analyzed using flow cytometry. Immunoglobulin in plasma was measured before and after immunization with ovalbumin. The immunoglobulin subclasses and ovalbumin-specific immunoglobulins were measured by enzyme-immunoassay. Effects of improvement in hyperglycemia of G-K rats by chronic diet restriction on lymphocyte populations were also investigated.
T/B lymphocyte ratios in blood and spleen from the G-K rats were significantly higher than those from the Wistar rats. The difference in the T/B cell ratio in blood of the G-K and Wistar rats was not affected by the diet restriction and the immunization. The ability of immunoglobulin production in G-K rats was comparable to that in Wistar rats, while the levels of natural IgM and ovalbumin-specific IgG2a were higher in plasma from the G-K rats than in plasma from the Wistar rats.
Since helper T cell type 2 (Th2) is known to regulate the class switch to IgG2a in rats, the results of this study suggest that G-K rats are characterized as immunologically Th2 dominant, resulting in increases in natural IgM and T/B cell ratio.
Life sciences 02/2012; 90(13-14):545-52. · 2.56 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The liver possesses the capacity to restore its function and mass after injury. Liver regeneration is controlled through complicated mechanisms, in which the phosphoinositide (PI) cycle is shown to be activated in hepatocytes. Using a rat partial hepatectomy (PH) model, the authors investigated the expression of the diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) family, a key enzyme in the PI cycle, which metabolizes a lipid second-messenger diacylglycerol (DG). RT-PCR analysis shows that DGKζ and DGKα are the major isozymes in the liver. Results showed that in the process of regeneration, the DGKζ protein, which is detected in the nucleus of a small population of hepatocytes in normal liver, is significantly increased in almost all hepatocytes. However, the mRNA levels remain largely unchanged. Double labeling with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), an S phase marker, reveals that DGKζ is expressed independently of DNA synthesis or cell proliferation. However, DGKα protein localizes to the cytoplasm in normal and regenerating livers, but immunoblot analysis reveals that the expected (80 kDa) and the lower (70 kDa) bands are detected in normal liver, whereas at day 10 after PH, the expected band is solely recognized, showing a different processing pattern of DGKα in liver regeneration. These results suggest that DGKζ and DGKα are involved, respectively, in the nucleus and the cytoplasm of hepatocytes in regenerating liver.
Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry 12/2011; 60(2):130-8. · 2.72 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to determine whether age influences the association between obesity and hyperglycemia.
The subjects were 57,576 Japanese male and female workers aged 35-70 years. The associations of adiposity indices, including BMI, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio, with risk for hyperglycemia were compared among different age groups (35-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60-70 years) using odds ratios (ORs).
There were significant trends for the crude ORs of obese subjects versus nonobese subjects for hyperglycemia to be lower as age increased in men and women. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed these trends of age-dependent decreases in ORs for hyperglycemia were not altered by adjustment for confounders such as smoking, alcohol drinking, and habitual exercise.
The results suggest that the association between obesity and hyperglycemia declines with age in men and women.
Diabetes care 11/2011; 35(1):175-7. · 8.09 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to clarify whether age affects ROC curves for the relationships between obesity indices and MRFs for atherosclerosis. Subjects were 35-70-year-old men (n=37,697) and women (n=19,891) who received health checkup examinations. ROC curves were analyzed for relationships of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) with MRFs for atherosclerosis consisting of two or more risk factors (RFs) of metabolic syndrome (MetS) including high blood pressure, dyslipidemia (hypertriglyceridemia and/or hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia) and hyperglycemia. Both in men and women, AUC (area under the curve) of the ROC curves tended to be smaller as age increased. In women, cut-off values of WHtR tended to be higher as age increased, while no apparent relationships were found between age and cut-off values of BMI and WC in women and between age and cut-off values of the three obesity indices in men. The results suggest that both in men and women, the associations between obesity and MRFs for atherosclerosis become weaker as age increases, while age does not influence cut-off values of obesity indices except for higher WHtR at an older age in women.
Archives of gerontology and geriatrics 08/2011; 55(1):96-100. · 1.36 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to determine the relationships of risk factors for atherosclerosis with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) evaluated by a new enzyme immunoassay for measurement of LOX-1 (lectin-like OxLDL receptor) ligand.
Subjects were 236 healthy men aged 33-62 years. LOX-1 ligand containing apoB (LAB) was measured by an enzyme-immunoassay using immobilized recombinant LOX-1 and anti-ApoB monoclonal antibody.
In simple regression analysis, log-converted LAB showed significant positive correlations with history of smoking, waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, log-converted triglycerides, uric acid and white blood cell count and showed a significant negative correlation with HDL cholesterol. In multiple regression analysis using history of smoking, history of drinking, waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, HDL cholesterol, log-converted triglycerides and uric acid as explanatory variables, log-converted LAB showed significant correlations only with history of smoking and log-converted triglycerides. Log-converted LAB was significantly higher in heavy smokers (≥20 cigarettes per day) than in nonsmokers and light smokers (<20 cigarettes per day), while no difference in log-converted LAB was found between nonsmokers and light smokers. Log-converted LAB was significantly higher in subjects with hypertriglyceridemia (≥150 mg/dl), large waist circumference (≥85 cm), high diastolic blood pressure (≥85 mmHg), or metabolic syndrome defined by the NCEP-ATP III criteria than in subjects without each risk factor or metabolic syndrome.
Hypertriglyceridemia and smoking are determinants of LOX-1 ligand activity in healthy men and are thus thought to be crucial risk factors for initiation of atherosclerotic progression through generation of OxLDL.
Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry 08/2011; 412(17-18):1643-7. · 2.54 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS), activity of the fibrinolytic system is generally surmised to be decreased through increased plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) generation. However, there have been no detailed reports describing whether the clot lysis activity is more dominant than increased clot formation activity for production of the thrombotic state in MetS.
The global thrombosis test (GTT) is a novel method designed to test both clot formation and clot lysis activities under physiological conditions by using non-anticoagulated blood samples in vitro. We used the GTT to examine the thrombotic or thrombolytic states in males with MetS.
Lysis time, which reflects spontaneous clot lysis activity, was significantly longer in MetS subjects (median, 1494s; range, 865-3596s; n=30) than in control subjects (median 1246s; range, 667-2239s; n=53). There was no significant difference between the two groups in occlusion time, which reflects platelet function. The mean level of PAI-1 was significantly higher in MetS subjects than in controls (mean ± SE, 8.7 ± 1.1 and 5.0 ± 0.5 ng/mL, respectively). PAI-1 level and lysis time were significantly correlated (r=0.400, P<0.01).
These results suggest that male patients with MetS are more likely than controls to experience a thrombotic state through decreased fibrinolytic activity due to increased PAI-1 generation, and that the GTT is useful for evaluating fibrinolytic activity in vitro.
Thrombosis Research 07/2011; 129(4):499-501. · 2.44 Impact Factor
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Ichiro Wakabayashi
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to determine how alcohol consumption influences metabolic syndrome in patients with hypertension. The subjects were 3938 male workers being treated with anti-hypertensive drugs and they were divided into four groups by average ethanol intake [non-, light (<22 g/day), moderate (≥22 and <44 g/day), and heavy (≥44 g/day) drinkers]. The relationships of alcohol intake with atherosclerotic risk factors and metabolic syndrome were investigated. Waist circumference and hemoglobin A1c were significantly smaller and lower, respectively, in light, moderate, and heavy drinkers than in nondrinkers. Systolic blood pressure and log-converted triglyceride were significantly higher in heavy drinkers than in nondrinkers. HDL cholesterol was significantly higher in all of the drinker groups than in nondrinkers and tended to be higher as alcohol intake increased. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was significantly lower in light, moderate, and heavy drinkers than in nondrinkers. Age- and smoking history-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) vs. nondrinkers for metabolic syndrome were significantly low in light drinkers (OR = 0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.56-0.89), moderate drinkers (OR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.54-0.75) and heavy drinkers (OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.57-0.82). The results suggest that alcohol drinking is associated with a lower risk of metabolic syndrome in patients with hypertension.
Clinical and Experimental Hypertension 07/2011; 33(5):299-303. · 1.07 Impact Factor
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Ichiro Wakabayashi
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ABSTRACT: Habitual alcohol drinking influences blood cholesterol profile, and dyslipidaemia often accompanies obesity. The aim of this study was to determine whether obesity modifies relationships between alcohol intake and blood cholesterol profile.
Japanese men aged 35-60 years (n = 23 834) were divided into two groups by body mass index (BMI) (normal BMI: ≥ 18·5 and < 25 kg/m(2) ; high BMI: ≥ 25 kg/m(2) ) and were further divided into four subgroups by alcohol intake [non-, light (< 22 g ethanol/day), heavy (≥ 22 and < 44 g ethanol/day) and very heavy (≥ 44 g ethanol/day) drinkers]. Relationships of alcohol intake with serum LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and LDL/HDL ratio were investigated.
Both in the subject groups with normal and high BMI, alcohol intake was associated with lower risks of high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol and high LDL/HDL ratio, and these risks tended to decrease as alcohol intake increased. The odds ratios vs. nondrinkers for high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol and high LDL/HDL ratio tended to be lower in the normal BMI group than in the high BMI group. Significant interactions between alcohol drinking and BMI for high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol and high LDL/HDL ratio were found in all of the drinker subgroups except for the interaction for high LDL cholesterol in light drinkers.
High BMI status is suggested to attenuate the associations of alcohol intake with lower LDL cholesterol, higher HDL cholesterol and lower LDL/HDL ratio.
European Journal of Clinical Investigation 06/2011; 42(2):179-85. · 3.02 Impact Factor
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Ichiro Wakabayashi
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ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to determine whether relationships between alcohol intake and atherosclerotic risk factors were different in normotensive and prehypertensive persons.
Japanese men aged 35-60 years who showed normal blood pressure (n = 4,778) or prehypertension (n = 9,728) without any drug therapy for hypertension were divided into non, light (<22 g ethanol/day), heavy (≥ 22 and < 44 g ethanol/day) and very heavy (≥ 44 g ethanol/day) drinkers.
In subjects with prehypertension, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were significantly lower and smaller, respectively, in light, heavy and very heavy drinkers than in nondrinkers. In subjects with normal blood pressure, BMI was significantly lower in light and heavy drinkers but not in very heavy drinkers than in nondrinkers, and waist circumference was not significantly different in non, light and heavy drinkers and was significantly larger in very heavy drinkers than in nondrinkers. Both in the prehypertensive and normotensive groups, compared with nondrinkers, hemoglobin A(1C) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were significantly lower and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was significantly higher in light, heavy and very heavy drinkers, and log-converted triglycerides was significantly higher in very heavy drinkers.
The association of alcohol intake with a lower occurrence of obesity is stronger in prehypertensives than in normotensives, while the associations of alcohol intake with lower occurrences of hyperglycemia and abnormal cholesterol profile, such as lowered HDL cholesterol and elevated LDL cholesterol, and a higher occurrence of elevated triglycerides are similar in normotensive and prehypertensive persons.
American Journal of Hypertension 06/2011; 24(9):1007-14. · 3.18 Impact Factor
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Ichiro Wakabayashi
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to determine whether age influences the relationship between alcohol drinking and obesity. Japanese men receiving periodic health checkups (20-70 years old, n = 36,121) were divided into non-, light (<22 g ethanol/day), moderate (≥22 and <44 g ethanol/day), and heavy (≥44 g ethanol/day) drinkers. Relationships between alcohol intake and obesity-related indices were compared among the quartiles of age. BMI was lower in light and moderate drinkers than in nondrinkers, and these differences were more prominent in the 1st and 2nd quartiles of age than in the higher quartiles. In the 1st and 2nd quartiles of age, waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio were significantly smaller and lower, respectively, in light and moderate drinkers than in nondrinkers, and these differences were less prominent in the 3rd quartile and were not found in the 4th quartile. In the 1st and 2nd quartiles of age, odds ratios vs. nondrinkers for large waist circumference were significantly low (P < 0.01) in light drinkers (1st quartile: 0.64 (0.54-0.75); 2nd quartile: 0.69 (0.60-0.80)) and moderate drinkers (1st quartile: 0.69 (0.61-0.78); 2nd quartile: 0.84 (0.76-0.93)), whereas the odds ratio was significantly low (P < 0.05) only in light drinkers in the 3rd quartile (0.84 (0.73-0.97)) and was not significant in any drinker groups of the 4th quartile. The results suggest that alcohol consumption is associated with lower risk of obesity in Japanese men and this association is more prominent in younger men than in older men.
Obesity 06/2011; 19(9):1881-6. · 4.28 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Light-to-moderate alcohol consumption is associated with reduced risk for cardiovascular disease, whereas high serum γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) level is associated with cardiovascular disease. However, whether light-to-moderate alcohol drinking is still related to reduced risk of cardiovascular disease irrespective of GGT level is uncertain.
We performed a 12.5-year cohort study of 2336 men (excluding exdrinkers) who were free from cardiovascular disease. They were classified into 4 groups according to alcohol consumption: never, and current light, moderate, or heavy drinker. The multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios of alcohol consumption for incidence of coronary artery disease, total stroke, and ischemic stroke compared with those of never drinkers were assessed with stratification by GGT median (32 IU/L).
In participants with GGT >32 IU/L, the hazard ratios of all current drinkers for total and ischemic stroke were higher than those of never drinkers. However, in all current drinkers with GGT ≤32 IU/L, the multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios for total and ischemic stroke were lower than in never drinkers.
In men with above GGT median, alcohol drinking even with light-to-moderate consumption could be a risk factor for ischemic stroke.
Stroke 06/2011; 42(6):1764-7. · 5.73 Impact Factor
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Ichiro Wakabayashi
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ABSTRACT: Results of previous studies on the relationship between habitual alcohol drinking and metabolic syndrome in a general population are not consistent, and this relationship in patients with diabetes is unknown. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship of alcohol consumption with metabolic syndrome in patients with diabetes.
Japanese male workers with diabetes (n = 1960) were divided into non-, light (< 22 g ethanol/day), heavy (≥ 22 and < 44 g ethanol/day) and very heavy (≥ 44 g ethanol/day) drinkers. Relationships of alcohol consumption with visceral obesity evaluated by waist circumference, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia (high triglycerides and/or low HDL cholesterol), hyperglycemia, and metabolic syndrome (3 or more of these risk factors by the NCEP-ATP III criteria) were investigated.
Odds ratio vs. nondrinkers for high blood pressure was significantly high in all drinker groups, while odds ratio vs. nondrinkers for low HDL cholesterol was significantly low in all drinker groups. Odds ratio vs. nondrinkers for high triglycerides was significantly low in light drinkers and was significantly high in very heavy drinkers. Odds ratio vs. the nondrinker group for large waist circumference was not significant in any drinker groups. Odds ratio vs. nondrinkers for metabolic syndrome was significantly high in very heavy drinkers but was not significant in light and heavy drinkers.
Excessive alcohol intake is associated with a higher risk for metabolic syndrome through elevations of blood pressure and triglycerides in Japanese male patients with diabetes.
Journal of atherosclerosis and thrombosis 05/2011; 18(8):684-92. · 2.69 Impact Factor
