[Association of moderate alcohol intake, blood pressure regulation and renal function]

Abstract

Aim: to determine differences in regulation of blood pressure and renal function in patients with moderate intake of alcohol (1-14 units per week).

Material and methods: Cross-section study performed at the Department of Nephrology. Seventy-six patients admitted for diagnosis and treatment of hypertension were included. Patients with diabetes mellitus, renal failure and other coorbidities were excluded from the study. Medical history, data on alcohol consumption, laboratory analysis, Doppler echosonography of intrarenal blood vessels and 24-hour blood pressure monitoring were performed. The group that consumed alcohol (A+) consisted of 10 patients, while the group that did not (A-) consisted of 66 patients. The two groups were comparable by age, BMI and hypertension history. Two groups were compared by the values of their blood pressure, BMI, hypertension history in months, serum creatinine, uric acid, Doppler duplex index of renal resistence, triglycerides and cholesterol.

Results: In group A+ , the serum creatinine was significantly higher, but still within the normal range (86.3+/-15.72 vs 71.75+/-14.77, p=0.005). Serum uric acid followed the same trend (360.3+/-110.18 vs. 284.4+/-95.28, p=0.026. Pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure were higher in the A+ group (71.33+/-19.23 vs. 57.65+/-16.78, p=0.028 and 127.81+/-17.6 vs 111.02+/-21.67, p=0.03 respectively). Serum lipids were unsignificantly higher in the A+ group (9.56+/-1.5 vs 9.02+/-1.59, p=0.38). No changes between groups were registered with Doppler sonography of intrarenal blood vessels. In women, consumption of alcohol was associated with blood pressure control.

Conclusion: Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with the regulation of the blood pressure.