Researchers report new evidence that excessive alcohol consumption increases fatty deposits in the heart and other parts of the body. The study highlights the high risk of cardiovascular disease associated with heavy drinking, the researchers say.
This observational study used data from more than 6,000 participants in the NHLBI. Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)The researchers analyzed alcohol consumption patterns in this racially and ethnically diverse population, including light, moderate and heavy drinkers and lifetime abstainers, and used computed tomography data to analyze fat distribution in different body regions and compare this to drinking patterns.
The researchers found that heavy alcohol consumption was associated with an increase in ectopic fat, which refers to fat surrounding organs such as the heart, liver and intestine. In contrast, the lowest levels of ectopic fat were found in people who reported light-to-moderate alcohol intake, the researchers said.
“These findings further strengthen the relationship between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular disease risk and shed light on specific underlying diseases associated with excessive alcohol consumption,” said Cashel Jaquish, PhD, genetic epidemiologist and program officer at NHLBI. Mesa “Further studies are needed to further clarify the role of ectopic fat distribution in the relationship between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular disease,” she noted.
