Gusti Yusof, Liu Weimin, Athar Fathima, Cahill Paul A, Redmond Eileen M
Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642-8410, USA.
Nutrients. 2025 Feb 26;17(5):802. doi: 10.3390/nu17050802.
Alcohol, in the form of ethyl alcohol or ethanol, is a widely consumed substance with significant implications for human health. Research studies indicate multifaceted effects of alcohol on the cardiovascular system with both protective and harmful effects on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), depending on the amount involved and the pattern of consumption. Among the critical components of the cardiovascular system are endothelial cells which line blood vessels. These cells are pivotal in maintaining vessel homeostasis, regulating blood flow, and preventing thrombosis. Their compromised function correlates with arterial disease progression and is predictive of cardiovascular events. Here we review research investigating how alcohol exposure affects the endothelium to gain insight into potential mechanisms mediating alcohol's influence on ASCVD underlying heart attacks and strokes. Studies highlight opposite effects of low versus high levels of alcohol on many endothelial functions. In general, low-to-moderate levels of alcohol (~5-25 mM) maintain the endothelium in a non-activated state supporting vascular homeostasis, while higher alcohol levels (≥50 mM) lead to endothelial dysfunction and promotes atherosclerosis. These biphasic endothelial effects of alcohol might underlie the varying impacts of different alcohol consumption patterns on ASCVD.
酒精，以乙醇或酒精的形式存在，是一种广泛消费的物质，对人类健康有重大影响。研究表明，酒精对心血管系统有多方面的影响，对动脉粥样硬化性心血管疾病（ASCVD）既有保护作用，也有有害作用，这取决于饮酒量和饮酒模式。血管内皮细胞是心血管系统的关键组成部分之一，它们排列在血管内壁。这些细胞在维持血管内环境稳定、调节血流和预防血栓形成方面起着关键作用。它们功能受损与动脉疾病进展相关，并可预测心血管事件。在此，我们回顾了关于酒精暴露如何影响内皮细胞的研究，以深入了解介导酒精对ASCVD（心脏病发作和中风的潜在机制）影响的潜在机制。研究强调了低水平和高水平酒精对许多内皮功能的相反影响。一般来说，低至中度饮酒量（约5-25 mM）可使内皮细胞维持在非激活状态，支持血管内环境稳定，而较高的酒精水平（≥50 mM）则会导致内皮功能障碍并促进动脉粥样硬化。酒精对内皮细胞的这种双相作用可能是不同饮酒模式对ASCVD产生不同影响的基础。
