Binge Drinking Pattern Research Articles

Twelve months of voluntary heavy alcohol consumption in male rhesus macaques suppresses intracortical bone remodeling

Chronic heavy alcohol consumption is a risk factor for cortical bone fractures in males. The increase in fracture risk may be due, in part, to reduced bone quality. Intracortical (osteonal) bone remodeling is the principle mechanism for maintaining cortical bone quality. However, it is not clear how alcohol abuse impacts intracortical bone remodeling. This study investigated the effects of long-duration heavy alcohol consumption on intracortical bone remodeling in a non-human primate model. Following a 4-month induction period, male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta, n=21) were allowed to voluntarily self-administer water or alcohol (4% ethanol w/v) for 22h/d, 7 d/wk for 12months. Control monkeys (n=13) received water and an isocaloric maltose-dextrin solution. Tetracycline hydrochloride was administered orally 17 and 3days prior to sacrifice for determination of active mineralization sites. Animals in the alcohol group consumed 2.7±0.2g alcohol/kg/d (mean±SE) during the 12months of self-administration, resulting in a mean daily blood alcohol concentration of 77±9mg/dl from samples taken at 7h after the start of a daily session. However, blood alcohol concentration varied widely from day to day, with peak levels exceeding 250mg/dl, modeling a binge-drinking pattern of alcohol consumption. The skeletal response to alcohol was determined by densitometry, microcomputed tomography and histomorphometry. Significant differences in tibial bone mineral content, bone mineral density, and cortical bone architecture (cross-sectional volume, cortical volume, marrow volume, cortical thickness, and polar moment of inertia) in the tibial diaphysis were not detected with treatment. However, cortical porosity was lower (1.8±0.5 % versus 0.6±0.1 %, p=0.021) and labeled osteon density was lower (0.41±0.2/mm2versus 0.04±0.01/mm2, p<0.003) in alcohol-consuming monkeys compared to controls, indicating a reduced rate of intracortical bone remodeling. In concordance, plasma CTx was lower (2.5±0.3ng/ml versus 1.7±0.1ng/ml, p=0.028) in the alcohol group. These results suggest that chronic heavy alcohol consumption may negatively impact bone health, in part, by suppressing intracortical bone remodeling.

Regional differences in patterns of alcohol consumption: findings from the China Kadoorie Biobank study on half a million people from 10 regions

To describe the regional differences on patterns of alcohol consumption across 10 study in the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) areas involving half a million adults. The baseline survey of CKB took place in 5 urban and 5 rural areas across China during 2004-2008. Detailed information on alcohol consumption of 512 891 participants aged 30-79 years was gathered and analyzed. were directly standardized on age (in 10-age groups) and education (5 groups) structure of the study population for different sex. The overall prevalence rates of regular drinking (i.e., at least weekly) were 33.1% among men and 2.2% among women. Among men, the prevalence rate was seen highest in Harbin (52.0%) and Sichuan (50.2%), but lowest in Gansu (8.1%) and Haikou (18.8%). Most regular drinkers in Sichuan, Hunan, and Gansu habitually drank strong spirits (≥ 40% alcohol content), whereas beer was most commonly consumed in Harbin and Qingdao, with rice wine most commonly used in the southern regions (Haikou, Suzhou,Zhejiang and Liuzhou). Mean alcohol consumption was highest in Sichuan (414.6 g/week). Although the mean alcohol consumptions appeared lower on regular occasion in Gansu (195.2 g/week) and Henan (239.6 g/week) than in other regions, the amount consumed on special occasions in these two regions were the highest (Henan:202.3 g/day; Gansu:171.2 g/day). Similar patterns were also seen in women. Of all the regular drinkers, 82.6% of men and 56.6% of women reported heavy drinking episodes (men: >60 g, women: >40 g) on special occasions. The patterns of alcohol consumption including prevalence, frequency, amount, binge drinking pattern, and type of alcohol beverage varied greatly among the ten areas of CKB under study.

Depressive symptoms and alcohol correlates among Brazilians aged 14 years and older: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe associations between depressive symptoms and alcohol-related disorders, drinking patterns and other characteristics of alcohol use are important public health issues worldwide. This study aims to study these associations in an upper middle-income country, Brazil, and search for related socio-demographic correlations in men and women.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2005 and April 2006. The sample of 3,007 participants, selected using a multistage probabilistic sampling method, represents the Brazilian population aged 14 and older. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and alcohol dependence was assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Associations assessed using bi-variate analysis were tested using Rao-Scott measures. Gender specific multinomial logistic regression models were developed.ResultsAmong the participants with alcohol dependence, 46% had depressive symptoms (17.2% mild/moderate and 28.8% major/severe; p < 0.01); 35.8% (p = 0.08) of those with alcohol abuse and 23.9% (p < 0.01) of those with a binge-drinking pattern also had depressive symptoms. Alcohol abstainers and infrequent drinkers had the highest prevalence of major/severe depressive symptoms, whereas frequent heavy drinkers had the lowest prevalence of major/severe depressive symptoms. In women, alcohol dependence and the presence of one or more problems related to alcohol consumption were associated with higher risks of major/severe depressive symptoms. Among men, alcohol dependence and being ≥45 years old were associated with higher risks of major/severe depressive symptoms.ConclusionsIn Brazil, the prevalence of depressive symptoms is strongly related to alcohol dependence; the strongest association was between major/severe depressive symptoms and alcohol dependence in women. This survey supports the possible association of biopsychosocial distress, alcohol consumption and the prevalence of depressive symptoms in Brazil. Investing in education, social programs, and care for those with alcohol dependence and major/severe depressive symptoms, especially for such women, and the development of alcohol prevention policies may be components of a strategic plan to reduce the prevalence of depression and alcohol problems in Brazil. Such a plan may also promote the socio-economic development of Brazil and other middle-income countries.

Effects of acute ethanol exposure on anxiety measures and epigenetic modifiers in the extended amygdala of adolescent rats.

Epigenetic mechanisms appear to play an important role in neurodevelopment. We investigated the effects of acute ethanol exposure on anxiety measures and function of histone deacetylases (HDAC) and DNA methyltransferases (DNMT) in the amygdala and bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST) of adolescent rats. One hour after ethanol exposure, rats were subjected to anxiety measures. A subset of adolescent rats was exposed to two doses (24 h apart) of ethanol (2 g/kg) to measure rapid ethanol tolerance to anxiolysis. The HDAC and DNMT activities and mRNA levels of DNMT isoforms were measured in the amygdala and BNST. The lower dose of ethanol (1 g/kg) produced neither anxiolysis, nor inhibited the HDAC and DNMT activities in the amygdala and BNST, except DNMT activity in BNST was attenuated. Anxiolysis by ethanol was observed at 2 and 2.25 g/kg, whereas higher doses (2.5 and 3 g/kg) were found to be sedative. DNMT activity in the amygdala and BNST, and nuclear HDAC activity in the amygdala, but not in the BNST were also inhibited by these doses of ethanol. A lack of tolerance was observed on ethanol-induced inhibition of DNMT activity in the amygdala and BNST, and nuclear HDAC activity in the amygdala, as well to anxiolysis produced by ethanol (2 g/kg). The DNMT1, DNMT3a, and DNMT3b mRNA expression in the amygdala was not affected by either 1or 2 doses of 2 g/kg. However, DNMT1 and DNMT3a expression in the BNST was increased, whereas DNMT3l mRNA was decreased in the amygdala, after 2 doses of 2 g/kg ethanol. These results suggest that reduced sensitivity to anxiolysis and the lack of rapid tolerance to the anxiolytic effects of ethanol and inhibition of HDAC and DNMT functions may play a role in engaging adolescents in binge drinking patterns.

Binge drinking and sports participation in college: Patterns among athletes and former athletes

This study draws on a nationally representative sample to examine the relationship between participation in organized sport and alcohol use. We build on prior studies by re-examining the relationship between participation in organized sport and binge drinking and how this varies by both race and gender. We expand upon previous research by analyzing the long-term effects of involvement in organized athletics among both current and former sport participants and how this compares to patterns of binge drinking among the general college student population. To do so, our analysis compares rates of binge drinking among current college athletes, former athletes, and college students who were never involved in interscholastic sport. We find that: (1) organized sports participation is associated with binge drinking; (2) that this relationship holds across racial and gendered lines; (3) that the effects of exposure extend beyond time of involvement. The paper concludes with a discussion of possible explanations for the relationship between binge drinking and athletics, and the long-lasting effect of participation in organized sport.

Evolution of the binge drinking pattern in college students: Neurophysiological correlates

It is well known that alcohol impairs response inhibition and that adolescence is a critical period of neuromaturation where cognitive processes such as inhibitory control are still developing. In recent years, growing evidence has shown the negative consequences of alcohol binge drinking on the adolescent and young human brain. However, the effects of cessation of binge drinking on brain function remain unexplored. The objective of the present study was to examine brain activity during response execution and inhibition in young binge drinkers in relation to the progression of their drinking habits over time. Event-related potentials (ERPs) elicited by a Go/NoGo task were recorded twice within a 2-year interval in 57 undergraduate students (25 controls, 22 binge drinkers, and 10 ex-binge drinkers) with no personal or family history of alcoholism or psychopathological disorders. The results showed that the amplitude of NoGo-P3 over the frontal region correlated with an earlier age of onset of regular drinking as well as with greater quantity and speed of alcohol consumption. Regression analysis showed that NoGo-P3 amplitude was significantly predicted by the speed of alcohol intake and the age of onset of regular drinking. The group comparisons showed that, after maintaining a binge drinking pattern for at least 2 years, binge drinkers displayed significantly larger NoGo-P3 amplitudes than controls, whereas ex-binge drinkers were in an intermediate position between the two other groups (with no significant differences with respect to controls or binge drinkers). These findings suggest that binge drinking in young people may impair the neural functioning related to inhibitory processes, and that the cessation of binge drinking may act as a brake on the neurophysiological impairments related to response inhibition.

EPA-0246 - Aggregate level effect of binge drinking on suicide mortality rate in russia

Introduction Suicide is one of the main causes of premature mortality in Russia. There is strong evidence of a crucial role of harmful drinking pattern (binge drinking) in explanation a high suicide rate in this country. Objectives This paper was design to estimate the aggregate level effect of binge drinking on suicide mortality rate in Russia. Method Trends in age-adjusted, sex-specific suicide mortality and fatal alcohol poisoning rate (as a proxy for binge drinking) from 1980 to 2005 were analyzed employing a distributed lags analysis in order to asses bivariate relationship between the two time series. Results The results of the time series analysis indicate the presence of a statistically significant association between the two time series at zero lag for male (R = 0.44; P Conclusions This study indicates that substantial proportion of suicide deaths in Russia is due to acute effect of binge drinking. The findings from the present study also suggest that a restrictive alcohol policy can be considered as an effective measure of suicide prevention in countries where higher rate of alcohol consumption and binge drinking pattern.

Alcohol induces profuse reversible decrease in platelet function and delayed initiation of co-agulation

Moderate alcohol consumption may influence platelet aggregation, reduce fibrinogen concentration or increase clot dissolution. Since the binge-drinking pattern observed among some Northern people leads to exposure of traumatic brain injury and the immediate effects of alcohol on platelet function and whole blood coagulation are partly unknown, we performed an experiment aiming to characterize coagulation capacity during substantial intake of alcohol. A 49-year old volunteer man drank 1 bottle of sparkling wine within one hour: during the first 15 minutes-0.24 L, during the next 15 minutes-0.24 L more, and finally the rest of bottle (0.27 L) within 30 minutes. Rotational thromboelastometry and platelet function analysis have been performed. Platelet aggregation decreased at 30 minutes, but at 60 minutes the aggregation exceeded the 0 minutes values. Maximum clot firmness remained stable, but clot formation time was prolonged at 30 and 60 minutes. Fibrinolysis has been increased at 30 and 60 minutes. A momentary disturbance of platelet function followed by hyperaggregation, delayed initiation of coagulation and increase in fibrin clot lysis are seen during the early phase of alcohol intake. Since the effects of alcohol may be individual, a combination of detailed history of drinking and point of care evaluation of coagulation and platelet function may shed light on various treatment options in trauma patients on alcohol.

Acute effects of red wine on cytochrome P450 eicosanoids and blood pressure in men

The vasodilation accompanying acute alcohol ingestion is hard to reconcile with the strong evidence linking chronic alcohol consumption with hypertension. Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) eicosanoids derived from arachidonic acid include vasodilator epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) and the vasoconstrictor 20-hydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (20-HETE). This study aimed to examine the relationship between CYP450 eicosanoids and blood pressure (BP), and compared the effect of single session of drinking red wine with de-alcoholized red wine (DRW) or water over 24 h. Twenty-five normotensive men were randomly assigned to drink either 375 ml of red wine (41 g of alcohol) or the equivalent volume of DRW or water, with a light meal on 3 separate days. Ambulatory BP and heart rate were measured over 24 h. Blood samples were obtained before and 2, 4 and 24 h after beverage consumption. Blood pressure fell in the first 4 h after red wine consumption (P = 0.001), but was significantly higher after 20 h (P = 0.037). Plasma 20-HETE fell in the 2 h after consumption of all beverages, but over the 24-h period was relatively higher after red wine consumption (P = 0.025). The largest difference in 20-HETE was 2 h after consuming red wine and coincided with the highest blood alcohol level. There were no significant effects of red wine on plasma EETs. Acute consumption of alcohol as red wine results in a relative increase in plasma levels of the vasoconstrictor 20-HETE over 24 h without affecting EETs, and may contribute to the BP elevation that associates with a binge drinking pattern or be a homeostatic response to the acute fall in BP induced by alcohol.

Stroke and Alcohol Poisoning Mortality in Russia

Abtract Background: Stroke is an international health problem with high associated human and economic costs. Stroke burden is expected to be rising, especially in developing countries. The mortality rate from stroke in Russia is one of the highest in the world. Epidemiological evidence suggests that binge drinking is an important determinant of high stroke mortality rate in Russia. In line with this evidence we assume that devastating combination of higher level of alcohol consumption per capita and binge drinking of vodka results in a close association between binge drinking and stroke mortality at the aggregate level in Russia. This paper was design to estimate the aggregate level effect of binge drinking on stroke mortality rate in Russian. Method: Trends in age-adjusted, sex-specific stroke mortality and fatal alcohol poisoning rate (as a proxy for binge drinking) from 1965 to 2005 were analyzed employing a distributed lags analysis in order to asses bivariate relationship between the two time series. Results: The results of the time series analysis indicates the presence of a statistically significant association between the two time series at zero lag for male (r = 0.76; S.E. = 0.17), and for female (r = 0.64; S.E. = 0.17). Conclusion: The results of present study support the hypothesis that alcohol played a crucial role in cerebrovascular mortality fluctuation in Russia over the past decades. This study also indicates that substantial proportion of stroke deaths in Russia is due to acute effect of binge drinking. The findings from the present study have important implications as regards cerebrovascular mortality prevention indicating that a restrictive alcohol policy can be considered as an effective measure of prevention in countries where higher rate of alcohol consumption and binge drinking pattern.

Consumo de drogas entre los Especialistas Internos Residentes de Jaén (España) y su relación con el consejo clínico

There are few studies on the prevalence of alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs consumption among Specialist Interns (EIR) and their counseling to the patients. A multicenter cross-sectional study is carried out, consisting in a self-administered validated questionnaire to describe the consumption of the EIR of 17 health centers in Jaen (Andalusia) (4 hospitals, 13 primary care) and their relationship with their counseling. 215 EIR participate with 81% of valid questionnaires: mean age 31.2 years (± 0.7), 70% women, 13% foreigners, only 6% nursing. Of them 78% consumed alcohol (onset age 16.8 years ± 0.3), 81% occasionally and 17% weekend. The alcohol average weekly intake was 5.9 (± 5.8) UBE, especially beer and cocktails; 17% show a binge-drinking pattern (more frequent in men, p = .001 x 2). 19% smoke. A total of 71% smoke on a daily bases (mean of 8.9 ± 1.6 cigarettes/day); the nicotine dependence is low (68%) and two thirds have tried to quit. Only 3% use cannabis. A fifth part of EIR does not usually advise against smoking use (21%), a third part does not advise against alcohol (34%) and almost half of them neither advises against drugs (44%) (p = .001 x 2). Logistic regression shows greater clinical advice from older EIR. Advice against drinking alcohol provided by EIR women is more frequent (OR 2.93) and, probably, even more in EIR that binge drink (OR 2.32). Late smoking onset is related to less clinical advice against illegal drugs (OR 0.76).

Co-Occurring Physical Fighting and Suicide Attempts among U.S. High School Students: Examining Patterns of Early Alcohol Use Initiation and Current Binge Drinking

Introduction: A growing body of empirical research documents a significant co-occurrence of suicide attempts and interpersonal violence among youth. However, the potential role of early alcohol use initiation and current heavy alcohol use as correlates of this comorbidity has not been examined in a nationally representative sample of high school students.Methods: We based our analyses on cross-sectional data from the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which includes a nationally representative sample (n=16,410) of high school students in grades 9 through 12 in the United States. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to test the associations between measures of alcohol use (early alcohol use initiation and heavy drinking) and comorbid suicidal and violent behavior while controlling for potential confounders.Results: Among high school students, 3.6% reported comorbid physical fighting and suicide attempt in the past year. Early alcohol use (prior to age 13) and heavy drinking (5 or more drinks in a row) were strongly associated with comorbid reports of physical fighting and suicide attempts (Adj. odds ratio [OR]=3.12; 95% confidence interval [CI]:2.49-3.89) and (Adj. OR=3.45; 95%CI:2.63-4.52).Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of both early alcohol use initiation and heavy drinking as statistically significant correlates of comorbid fighting and suicide attempts among youth. While future research is needed to determine the temporal ordering between problem drinking and violent or suicidal behaviors, existing prevention programs may benefit from including components aimed at reducing and delaying alcohol use. [West J Emerg Med. 2013;14(4):341–346.]

Substance Use, Age at Migration, and Length of Residence Among Adult Immigrants in the United States

In this study we scrutinize prevalence of current smoking and binge drinking among adult US immigrants, and examine whether age at migration predicts these two behaviors and moderates the effect of length of residence. Immigrant groups include those from Latin America/Caribbean, East and South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe/Central Asia, and Middle East/North Africa. Multivariate logistic regressions are estimated using cross-sectional data from the New Immigrant Survey (N=7,397). Results show that patterns of smoking and binge drinking vary by gender and by region of origins. In addition, arriving at age 0-9 are directly associated with higher odds of binge drinking among adult women. Among adult men, age at migration moderates the association between length of residence and substance use. Specifically, length of residence has more detrimental effects for adolescent immigrants (arriving at age 10-18) on smoking, while its detrimental effects are more pronounced for childhood immigrants (arriving at age 0-9) on binge drinking. We interpret our findings within the critical period model in epidemiological research, concluding that adolescence and childhood are critical life stages that are associated with differential effects of length of residence when looking at smoking and binge drinking among immigrant men.

Binge drinking and blood pressure: cross-sectional results of the HAPIEE study.

ObjectivesTo investigate whether binge drinking pattern influences blood pressure independently from drinking volume or whether it modifies the effect of volume of drinking.MethodsWe used cross-sectional data from population samples of 7559 men and 7471 women aged 45–69 years in 2002-05, not on antihypertensive medication, from Russia, Poland and Czech Republic. Annual alcohol intake, drinking frequency and binge drinking (≥100 g in men and ≥60 g in women in one session at least once a month) were estimated from graduated frequency questionnaire. Blood pressure was analysed as continuous variables (systolic and diastolic pressure) and a binary outcome (≥140/90 mm Hg).ResultsIn men, annual alcohol intake and drinking frequency were strongly associated with blood pressure. The odds ratio of high blood pressure for binge drinking in men was 1.62 (95% CI 1.45–1.82) after controlling for age, country, body mass index, education and smoking; additional adjustment for annual alcohol intake reduced it to 1.20 (1.03–1.39). In women, the fully adjusted odds ratio of high blood pressure for binge drinking was 1.31 (1.05–1.63). Binge drinking did not modify the effect of annual alcohol intake. Consuming alcohol as wine, beer or spirits had similar effects.ConclusionsThe results suggest that the independent long-term effect of binge drinking was modest, that binge drinking did not modify the effect of alcohol intake, and that different alcoholic beverages had similar effects on blood pressure.

Effects of a Persistent Binge Drinking Pattern of Alcohol Consumption in Young People: A Follow-Up Study Using Event-Related Potentials

The objective of this study was to examine brain activity related to visual attention processes in youths who had maintained a binge drinking (BD) pattern of alcohol consumption for >2 years. The participants were 57 university students (26 binge drinkers: BDs) with no personal or family history of alcoholism or psychopathological disorders in first-degree relatives. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded while participants performed a visual oddball task (twice within a 2-year interval). The latency and amplitude of the P3b component of the ERPs were analysed. The P3b amplitude was larger in young BDs than in aged-matched controls at both evaluation times, and the difference was more pronounced after 2 years of maintenance of a BD pattern of consumption. The larger P3b amplitude was associated with an earlier onset of regular drinking and with a greater quantity and intensity of consumption. These findings suggest that young BDs exhibit anomalies in neural activity involved in attentional/working memory processes, which increase after 2 years of maintenance of BD. This anomalous neural activity may reflect underlying dysfunctions in neurophysiological mechanisms as well as the recruitment of additional attentional/working memory resources to enable the binge drinkers to perform the task adequately.

Body Weight and Nutrition Consequences of Alcohol Consumption in Young Adults

Alcohol consumption is described in terms of both quantity and frequency of alcohol use. This article describes present knowledge of alcohol use in young adults, complex factors that influence alcohol use and binge drinking, nutrition and body weight consequences of alcohol use, and interventions that may decrease alcohol use. Young adults have the highest prevalence of infrequent, high-quantity alcohol consumption in any age group, placing them at an increased risk for weight gain, overweight, and obesity. Lifestyle medicine practitioners can have a positive impact by sharing 4 key recommendations about alcohol use: (a) alcohol provides calories but no essential nutrients;(b)if alcohol is consumed, it should be consumed in moderation—up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men;(c) moderate-level alcohol consumption is associated with the lowest risk of obesity (d) moderate-level alcohol consumption, when consumed in a binge-drinking pattern, is not protective against obesity.

Co-Occurring Physical Fighting and Suicide Attempts among U.S. High School Students: Examining Patterns of Early Alcohol Use Initiation and Current Binge Drinking.

Introduction: A growing body of empirical research documents a significant co-occurrence of suicide attempts and interpersonal violence among youth. However, the potential role of early alcohol use initiation and current heavy alcohol use as correlates of this comorbidity has not been examined in a nationally representative sample of high school students.Methods: We based our analyses on cross-sectional data from the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which includes a nationally representative sample (n=16,410) of high school students in grades 9 through 12 in the United States. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to test the associations between measures of alcohol use (early alcohol use initiation and heavy drinking) and comorbid suicidal and violent behavior while controlling for potential confounders.Results: Among high school students, 3.6% reported comorbid physical fighting and suicide attempt in the past year. Early alcohol use (prior to age 13) and heavy drinking (5 or more drinks in a row) were strongly associated with comorbid reports of physical fighting and suicide attempts (Adj. odds ratio [OR]=3.12; 95% confidence interval [CI]:2.49–3.89) and (Adj. OR=3.45; 95%CI:2.63–4.52).Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of both early alcohol use initiation and heavy drinking as statistically significant correlates of comorbid fighting and suicide attempts among youth. While future research is needed to determine the temporal ordering between problem drinking and violent or suicidal behaviors, existing prevention programs may benefit from including components aimed at reducing and delaying alcohol use.

Vitamin D and Calcium Status in South African Adolescents with Alcohol Use Disorders

Adequate vitamin D and calcium are essential for optimal adolescent skeletal development. Adolescent vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency and poor calcium intake have been reported worldwide. Heavy alcohol use impacts negatively on skeletal health, which is concerning since heavy adolescent drinking is a rising public health problem. This study aimed to examine biochemical vitamin D status and dietary intakes of calcium and vitamin D in 12–16 year-old adolescents with alcohol use disorders (AUD), but without co-morbid substance use disorders, compared to adolescents without AUD. Substance use, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (s-25(OH)D) concentrations, energy, calcium and vitamin D intakes were assessed in heavy drinkers (meeting DSM-IV criteria for AUD) (n = 81) and in light/non-drinkers without AUD (non-AUD) (n = 81), matched for age, gender, language, socio-economic status and education. Lifetime alcohol dose was orders of magnitude higher in AUD adolescents compared to non-AUD adolescents. AUD adolescents had a binge drinking pattern and “weekends-only” style of alcohol consumption. Significantly lower (p = 0.038) s-25(OH)D (adjusted for gender, smoking, vitamin D intake) were evident in AUD adolescents compared to non-AUD adolescents. High levels of vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency (s-25(OH)D < 29.9 ng/mL) were prevalent in both groups, but was significantly higher (p = 0.013) in the AUD group (90%) compared to the non-AUD group (70%). All participants were at risk of inadequate calcium and vitamin D intakes (Estimated Average Requirement cut-point method). Both groups were at risk of inadequate calcium intake and had poor biochemical vitamin D status, with binge drinking potentially increasing the risk of the latter. This may have negative implications for peak bone mass accrual and future osteoporosis risk, particularly with protracted binge drinking.

PS70. Alcohol Use Patterns as an Independent Risk Factor for Symptoms in Patients with Carotid Artery Stenosis

Patterns of alcohol use have been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events. Our lab has previously demonstrated the differential effect of daily-moderate vs. weekend-binge alcohol consumption on atherosclerotic plaque development in a murine model. In this study we hypothesized that patterns of alcohol use including binge drinking would be associated with an increased risk of developing symptoms in patients with a carotid stenosis by comparison of asymptomatic and symptomatic patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. In this IRB approved study, patients were asked to fill out a validated questionnaire assessing their pattern of alcohol use, specifically focusing on lifetime binge and overall drinking patterns. Past medical history, social history, and current laboratory data were assessed to evaluate for confounding variables. All patients were selected for surgery based upon NASCET and ACAS criteria. 47 patients (18 symptomatic, 29 asymptomatic) were included in this study. There were no statistical differences in patient demographics. Traditional risk factors for cardiovascular events were significant in univariate analysis. Lifetime number of drinks and lifetime number of binge drinking days were found more often in symptomatic patients. When compared in multivariate analysis, only total number of binge drinking days remained significant. In multivariate analysis with known cardiovascular event risk factors, binge drinking (OR = 1.21 per 1000 binge drinking days, 95% CI = 1.03-1.42, P = .022) and non-HDL cholesterol level (OR = 1.31 per 10 mg/dL, CI = 1.01-1.69, P = .040) remained significant predictors of symptoms in patients with carotid stenosis. These data suggest that there may be a significant relationship between symptoms in patients with carotid artery stenosis and the pattern in which they consume alcohol that is independent of traditional risk factors for cardiovascular events.

Impulsividad funcional y disfuncional en jóvenes con consumo intensivo de alcohol (binge drinking)

The pattern of binge drinking (BD), found especially among young people, has become an important social and health problem. However, its prevalence has not been carefully studied until recently, together with its consequences in the mid and long run and the possible risk factors. The aim of this work is to study, for the first time, the possible differences in the dimensions of functional and dysfunctional impulsivity in Dickman's model among university students with BD and non-consumers of alcohol or control group. 80 subjects (40 men) with a pattern of BD and 80 controls (40 men) participated in the study, aged 18 to 25 (21,38 ± 1,91). They all completed Dickman's Impulsivity Inventory (DII, 1990). Several variables known to affect the results, such as circadian typology, were controlled for. The scores on dysfunctional impulsivity were higher in the BD group compared to the controls, while no differences were found according to functional impulsivity. Men showed a higher degree of impulsivity than women, both functional and dysfunctional, although in dysfunctional impulsivity this is significant only in the BD group. The DII has proven sensitive to detecting BD, and thus it could become an assessment tool to take into account in preventive or treatment approaches in the future.