The effects of repeated binge drinking on arterial stiffness and urinary norepinephrine levels in young adults

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of repeated binge drinking and moderate alcohol consumption in young adults on arterial stiffness and sympathetic activity. Methods: We enrolled 49 healthy young adults, free of cardiovascular diseases (25 men; age: 23.5 +/- 0.4 years; BMI: 23.4 +/- 0.4 kg/m(2); mean +/- S.E). Individuals included were those with a history of repeated binge drinking (>2 years duration;n = 20), drank at moderate levels (MODs, >5 years duration;n = 16) and abstained from alcohol (last 2-3 years;n = 13). Arterial stiffness was assessed using carotid to femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and sympathetic activity was assessed using 24-h urinary norepinephrine levels. Also measured was aortic SBP and augmentation index (AIx), a measure of wave reflection. Results: Binge drinkers and MODs had higher cfPWV than alcohol abstainers (0.6 and 0.5 m/s, respectively;P <= 0.04). In addition, binge drinkers had higher urinary norepinephrine levels than MODs and alcohol abstainers (P < 0.05). Higher cfPWV were correlated with higher norepinephrine levels (r = 0.35.P = 0.02). Aortic SBP (P = 0.2) and AIx (P = 0.96) were similar among binge drinkers, MODs and alcohol abstainers. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that repeated exposure to alcohol, regardless of drinking pattern, may increase aortic arterial stiffness in healthy young adults. In addition, sympathetic activation, reflected by increased 24-h urinary norepinephrine levels, may contribute to alcohol-induced arterial stiffening in young adults.