Alcohol and Alcoholism Advance Access originally published online on November 25, 2007
Alcohol and Alcoholism 2008 43(2):192-197; doi:10.1093/alcalc/agm156
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Alcohol consumption, %CDT, GGT and blood pressure change during alcohol treatment
Charleston Alcohol Research Center, MUSC, Charleston SC 29425, USA
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed at: Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President Street, PO Box 250861, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; E-mail: baros{at}musc.edu
Received 16 April 2007; first review notified 18 June 2007; in revised form 6 August 2007; accepted 11 September 2007
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Abstract |
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Aims: Blood pressure (BP) changes in alcohol-dependent individuals during a 12-week alcohol relapse prevention study were examined in light of drinking status and biomarkers of alcohol consumption [carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (%CDT) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT)]. Methods: Of 160 randomized alcoholic individuals, 120 who had hypertension and in whom daily drinking data was available, at 6 and 12 weeks of treatment were included. The impact of alcohol consumption on change in systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) was examined. Further analysis determined the relationship between BP and alcohol-use biomarkers. Results: A significant effect of complete abstinence on both SBP (–10 mmHg; P = 0.003) and DBP (–7 mmHg; P = 0.001) when compared to any drinking (SBP and DBP = –1 mmHg) was observed. At week 12, participants with a positive %CDT (
2.6) had 7 mmHg greater SBP (P = 0.01) and DBP (P < 0.001) than those with negative %CDT. Participants with positive GGT (50 IU) had 10 mmHg greater SBP (P = 0.12) and 9 mmHg greater DBP (P = 0.03) than those with negative GGT. The percent change in SBP was correlated with percent change in %CDT (P = 0.003) but not GGT (P = ns). The percent change in DBP was correlated with both percent change in %CDT (P < 0.0001) and GGT (P = 0.03). Conclusions: Abstinence from alcohol significantly decreased the BP and a positive relationship between BP and both alcohol-use biomarkers was illustrated. Since %CDT is more specific than GGT for heavy alcohol consumption, clinicians may monitor the role of alcohol in hypertension using %CDT as a supplemental aid, providing an objective assessment of drinking to influence BP treatment decisions.