Winter Maladies: Natural Approaches
June Russell's Health Facts
Health Benefits of Alcohol Questioned — Specific Topics
Alcohol, Inflammation, and C-Reactive Protein
The Centers for Disease Control has released recommendations for doctors on the testing of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Evidence has been accumulating shows that those with high CRP levels are twice as likely to die from heart attack or stroke, more so than from high LDL cholesterol. These inflammatory proteins are thought to weaken plaques and make them more likely to burst, which then can lead to a clot that could choke off blood flow and cause a heart attack. Forty percent of U.S. adults are already considered at immediate risk of heart attacks because of other conditions, such as age, obesity and high blood pressure.
Dr. Lori Mosca of Columbia University questions the need for widespread testing and placing patients on drugs until it is shown that the lowering of CRP actually saves lives. Statins seem to protect against inflammation as well as cholesterol, but they can cause nerve and muscle damage, deplete the body of valuable Coenzyme Q10, and even contribute to cancer. CRP levels can fluctuate from day to day, and levels can increase with aging, high blood pressure, alcohol use, smoking, low levels of physical activity, chronic fatigue, coffee consumption, elevated triglycerides, insulin resistance/diabetes, estrogen therapy, high protein diet, sleep disturbances, and depression. Even eating can induce an inflammatory state that can damage healthy tissue. The risk factors for coronary heart disease and stroke are different, but there was not a breakdown risk factors in the study, and the issue of false-positives was not even discussed.
In January, 2003, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), stated that it is not clear that reducing CRP levels lowers the risk of cardiovascular events, and it is not known whether CRP levels themselves are causing the problem, or instead whether they are merely a marker for increased risk. There is no therapy that clearly and reliably reduces CRP levels. It is not time for HSCRP testing to become an accepted practice because large numbers of people could be needlessly alarmed, and a great deal of money would unnecessarily be spent on tests, office visits and medications.
Dr. Irving Kushner, a long-time expert in this area, stated in the Archives of Internal Medicine, that alcohol use (low or high) can increase the levels of CRP, but the range of ‘low’ or ‘high’ can vary greatly, leaving individuals unsure of just how much alcohol would put them at risk. Alcohol Health and Research World and the J. Stud. Alcohol, 1998, states that alcohol use increases cytokines. Cytokines are substances produced by the liver cells and the immune system in response to infection or cell damage. Alcohol is known to promote inflammation. In addition, alcoholic beverages are now a classified as a “A” human carcinogen, along with arsenic and asbestos, and even in smaller amounts have many other negative health effects.
There are studies, however, that show safer, healthier choices for those who want to reduce or prevent CRP levels. These are moderate physical activity, taking multivitamins and omega-3 fatty acids, and eliminating sources of trans-fatty acids.
Further Examination of Some of the Postive Reports
Jean Carper’s report, “Your Big New Threat: Inflammation,” in the ‘Eat Smart’ Column of USA WEEKEND, March 7-9, 2003, Ms. Carper said: “Drinking alcohol reduces inflammation, which may be one reason moderate drinkers have less heart disease. In a new study at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, non-drinkers showed one-third more inflammation than low to moderate drinkers.” Yet, one of the two referenced studies was from the Journal of the American Board of Family Practice, 2002.
This original study in the journal also had the following information that was omitted in Ms. Carper’s report, which gave only possible positive effects of alcohol consumption: We are unable to conclude firmly that alcohol drinking is the cause of the decreased prevalence of highest quartile C-reactive protein levels. An additional limitation is the reliance on self-report to determine alcohol use, inflammatory medications, tobacco use, and the presence of systemic autoimmune disease. The strength of the evidence, however, does not justify recommending moderate alcohol use to patients with elevated C-reactive protein levels. (An added comment: Even when people try to be accurate, there is about a 25 percent error in reporting intakes, according to nutritionnewsfocus.com - April 20, 2003)