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Dealcoholized Beer Has Cardiovascular Benefit

Posted: Thursday, June 03, 2004

Research suggests that the positive effects of alcoholic beverages on cardiovascular disorders is not due to alcohol alone.

Lead author Steffen Bassus, from the Deutsche Klinik fuer Diagnostik in Wiesbaden, Germany, says in a news release. "The mechanisms which underlie the protective effects of wine and beer consumption on coronary heart disease (CHD) risk are not fully understood, but there is substantial evidence that the effects on hemostasis play a key role."

The investigators studied the hemostatic effects of three liters of beer, dealcoholized beer, and ethanol/water (v/v 4%), consumed over a period of three hours, in 12 young healthy male volunteers. Age range was 19 to 36 years.
All three fluids reduced the expression of activated fibrinogen receptor, the platelet activation marker CD62, and the formation of monocyte-platelet-aggregate. Dealcoholized beer also had significant inhibitory effects on thrombin generation, whereas beer and ethanol had procoagulatory effects.

"Anti-platelet drugs are often used to reduce intima thickening, for example, restenosis...after angioplasty. Perhaps a different method of inhibiting platelet activation would be to drink dealcoholized beer," Dr. Bassus says. "Conversely, the acute consumption of alcohol beverages causes an increase of thrombin generation, suggesting a thrombotic risk in case of acute alcoholic intoxication."

Dr. Bassus emphasized that this assumption must be investigated in further studies, and that more research is needed to explore all of the confounding factors associated with alcoholic beverages. "Until we know more, perhaps nonalcoholic beverages can serve as an alternative, providing health benefits without the negative implications of alcohol use and abuse," he concluded.

Source: Diabetes In Control.