A new book on moderate consumption and vascular health, based on a Dutch cohort has been written by Aafje Sierksma with the support of Professor D.E. Grobbee and Dr H.F.J. Hendriks of the T.N.O., Nutrition and Food Research, Zeist, the Netherlands.

It is a comprehensive guide to cardiovascular disease (CVD) including CND and cerebrovascular disease and peripheral vascular disease that are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the Western world.

The first chapters look at 4 cross-sectional studies on aortis stiffness and whether it is affected by alcohol consumption.

The increase of ‘good’ HDL cholesterol by moderate alcohol consumption is looked at in chapter 4 along with alcohols role in reverse cholesterol transport (whereby cholesterol is taken to the liver for disposal as bile acids.)

Chapter 6 gives results of the first randomised diet control trial on inflammatory factors and C-reactive protein (CRP) (linked with inflammation) and why it decreases with moderate alcohol consumption.

Diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes and alcohol are covered in chapter 9 and finally the fibrinolytic effects of moderate consumption in women.

A conclusion incorporates a general discussion of the findings and suggests future research topics.