The effect of moderate alcohol ingestion on blood coagulation and fibrinolysis at rest and in response to exercise

Abstract

The effect of alcohol ingestion before exercise on blood haemostasis is not known. The present study examined the effects of moderate alcohol ingestion on blood haemostatic variables at rest and in response to exercise. Eleven normal healthy individuals randomly performed two tests separated by 7 days. A moderate dose of ethanol (0.5 g.kg-1) was administered before one test, whereas an equal volume of an alcohol-free drink was administered before the other. Forty-five minutes after the ingestion of either drink, the participants cycled at 65% VO2max for 30 min followed by a 5-min all-out performance. Venous blood samples were obtained before and 45 min after the ingestion of both drinks, and also immediately after exercise. Exercise induced a significant increase in tissue-type plasminogen activator activity and antigen, and factor VIII procoagulant activity. The post-exercise data also showed a significant decrease in plasminogen activator inhibitor activity and soluble fibrin, with a significant shortening in prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time, but not thrombin time. No significant changes were observed in antithrombin III. Although no significant differences were found between trials in the haemostatic and fibrinolytic variables at rest, a significant decrease in fibrinogen concentration was observed after exercise in the alcohol trial. This suggests that ingesting a moderate dose of alcohol does not alter blood coagulation and fibrinolysis at rest. Apart from fibrinogen concentration, which was significantly decreased after exercise in the alcohol trial, most of the haemostatic and fibrinolytic variables were not affected by alcohol. The mechanism responsible for the decrease in fibrinogen following exercise in the alcohol trial remains unknown, but might be related to inhibition of fibrinogen synthesis by the liver or an enhanced rate of its catabolism.