Alcohol Consumption and Coronary Artery Calcium in Middle-Aged Japanese Men

Epidemiologic studies have investigated the relation between alcohol intake and coronary calcification, with controversial results. Furthermore, the influence of heavy drinking has not been well elucidated. In the present study, a random sample of community-based Japanese men aged 40 to 49 years without a history of cardiovascular disease (n = 245) were examined for coronary artery calcium (CAC) determined by electron-beam computed tomography and drinking status. There was a J-shaped association between alcohol intake and CAC. There was an increase of CAC in heavy drinkers (≥46 g/day), and participants who were drinking ≥69 g/day showed a significant increase in CAC compared with never drinkers after adjusting for other cardiovascular risk factors.