Alcohol protects against leg artery disease

Alcohol protects against leg artery disease
A moderate consumption of alcohol can protect against arterial disease in legs of the elderly.

Leg artery disease (or lower extremity arterial disease) is a condition in which the arteries in the legs get clogged with fatty deposits, reducing blood flow to the legs. Over time, a build-up of plaque and a hardening of the arteries can impact circulation in the legs, ankles and feet. Symptoms of this condition include burning, aching, pain, and coolness in the legs, as well as changes in skin colour or the development of slow or non-healing sores on the legs or feet. It is said that adults who drink moderately have a lower risk of developing leg artery disease as compared to those who have zero alcohol consumption. However it is important to weigh these benefits against the many potentially harmful effects of alcohol consumption.

To assess the benefits of alcohol in the prevention of leg artery disease, American researchers studied 5,635 generally healthy, community-dwelling adults who participated in a cardiovascular health study. A total of 172 cases of leg artery disease were diagnosed during a mean of 7.5 years of follow-up between 1989 and 1999.

The results indicated that elderly men and women who reported drinking between one and 13 servings of beer, wine or liquor in a week had a 44 percent lower risk of being hospitalised for leg artery disease, compared with elderly men and women who reported no alcohol consumption. By contrast, it was also found that this apparent protective effect was not evident among study participants reporting less than one, or 14 or more, alcoholic drinks a week.

Moderate alcohol consumption was also associated with a trend for declining arterial pressure in the lower legs, another indicator of lower risk for arterial disease. Thus, it can be said that there exists a combination of potential cardiovascular benefits that come with moderate alcohol consumption. But it is important for older adults to discuss their alcohol consumption with doctors on a regular basis.

American Journal of Epidemiology,
January 2008