FEBRUARY 1998
(EDITORS NOTE: February is American Heart Month)
A: Recent research suggests that alcohol may have a bene-ficial effect on the heart. But too much of a good thing can be harmful. Heavy alcohol consumption can lead to alcoholic cardiomyopathy, a condition that impairs the pumping function of the heart, while the heart itself become enlarged. ("Heavy" consumption is considered 12 or more drinks per week.)
What actually causes the damage to the heart is in question. Alcohol is found to be damaging to the heart, but the nutrition of heavy drinkers also may be the cause of the damage.
Preliminary studies in the lab show that alcohol-induced heart muscle disease is related to a combine effect of chronic alcohol consumption and nutritional deficiencies involving selenium and/or vitamin E. Studies have concluded that the cause of alcohol-induced heart muscle disease is the toxic effect of alcohol on the body. Yet, several clinical studies have reported a decrease in blood selenium (an essential trace element) and vitamin E in chronic alcoholics, most likely resulting from poor dietary intake of these two micro-nutrients.
Alcohol also is known to increase the production of free radicals (extremely short-lived, yet reactive molecules or atoms). Preliminary studies suggest that selenium and vitamin E protect the body from damages by such free radicals. But when selenium and vitamin E are decreased, the damaging effects of these alcohol-induced free radicals on heart muscle may become un-checked and lead to heart failure.
(Charles Lui, M.D., cardiologist and University Heart Center member, The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson)
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