• A Sierksma, M S van der Gaag, C Kluft, and H F J Hendriks.
• TNO Nutrition and Food Research, Zeist, The Netherlands.
• Eur J Clin Nutr. 2002 Nov 1;56(11):1130-6.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of moderate alcohol consumption on the acute phase proteins C-reactive protein and fibrinogen.DesignRandomized, diet-controlled, cross-over study.SettingThe study was performed at TNO Nutrition and Food Research, Zeist, The Netherlands.SubjectsTen middle-aged men and 10 postmenopausal women, all apparently healthy, non-smoking and moderate alcohol drinkers, were included. One women dropped out because of a treatment-unrelated cause. The remaining 19 subjects finished the experiment successfully.InterventionsMen consumed four glasses and women consumed three glasses of beer or no-alcohol beer (control) with evening dinner during two successive periods of 3 weeks. The total diet was supplied to the subjects and had essentially the same composition during these 6 weeks. Before each treatment there was a 1 week washout period to compensate for possible carry-over effects.ResultsPlasma C-reactive protein and fibrinogen levels were decreased by 35% (P=0.02) and 12.4% (P< or =0.001), respectively, after 3 weeks' consumption of beer, as compared to no-alcohol beer consumption.ConclusionsModerate alcohol consumption significantly decreased plasma C-reactive protein and fibrinogen levels. An anti-inflammatory action of alcohol may help explain the link between moderate alcohol consumption and lower cardiovascular disease risk.SponsorshipDutch Foundation for Alcohol Research (SAR).

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