Effects of Cigarette Smoking and Family History of Alcoholism on Sweet Taste Perception and Food Cravings in Women.
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 31 (11), 1891–1899.


Despite popular beliefs that smoking affects the sensitivity and liking of sweet-tasting foods and beverages, few psychophysical studies have examined this phenomenon and none have taken into account the individual’s family history of alcoholism (FH+), a predictor of heightened sweet preferences.

Acute exposure to nicotine did not affect sucrose detection thresholds or preferences, but smokers had significantly higher sucrose detection thresholds than never smokers. The greater the smoking dose in pack-years, the lower the sucrose sensitivity. Regardless of smoking status, women who were FH+ preferred significantly higher sucrose concentrations and craved sweets more often than women who were not.

Both smoking and having a family history of alcoholism had differential effects on sweet taste. Smoking was associated with decreased sweet taste sensitivity whereas having a family history of alcoholism was associated with heightened sweet preferences.

These findings suggests that future research on the effects of smoking on food habits and cravings should take into account family history of alcoholism given its association with sweet liking and the increased likelihood to develop a tobacco disorder.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: ypepino@monell.org

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Single nucleotide polymorphisms of the ALDH2 gene in six Indian populations
Annals of Human Biology Published Online 18 October 2007







Aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) degrades acetaldehyde metabolized from ethanol. Its encoding gene ALDH2 has a functional polymorphism, ALDH2 Glu487Lys associated with low enzyme activity.

Since Glu487Lys of this locus is fixed for the functional subunit in all non-East Asian populations, this polymorphism was examined along with G-357A promoter (SacI) and four other intronic loci to identify informative markers to study the role of this gene in Indian populations.

A total of00000000 397 males belonging to six ethnic populations, from four linguistic groups of India were included in the present study. No test was performed to detect the phenotype of alcoholism. Genotype of ALDH2*E487K and G-357A promoter site along with four non-coding single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the upstream of this polymorphism were determined by PCR and sequencing.

All of the subjects were found to have the common homozygous genotype (ALDH2*1/ALDH2*1) for the E487K site. Allele frequencies of non-coding SNPs varied among populations but genetic variance (F_st) indicated little variation among populations. Four major SNP-defined haplotypes accounted for almost all chromosomes in all populations. The ancestral haplotype was found in high frequency in all populations and linkage disequilibrium was strong and highly significant between all sites (p < 0.05). The small number of haplotypes in this region is suggesting the strong linkage disequilibrium across the region and confirms the global long-range linkage disequilibrium around the ALDH2 locus.

This study provides a baseline for future research into the role of the ALDH2 locus in alcoholism in Indian populations.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: lvksbhaskar@gmail.com
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Brain substrates of craving to alcohol cues in subjects with alcohol use disorder
Alcohol and Alcoholism 2007 42(5):417-422

This study's purpose was to identify the neural substrates and mechanisms responsible for craving among subjects with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Brain activations in the fusiform gyri, temporal gyri, parahipocampal gyrus, uncus, frontal gyri, and precuneus were correlated with the level of craving among subjects with AUD in response to alcohol cues.

In conclusion, specific brain regions were identified that are associated with craving among subjects with AUD.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: jhsohn@cnu.ac.kr

Source: Addiction and Recovery News

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Underage Consumption Is a Quarter of Alcohol Sales

By Jackie Burrell | Contra Costa Times

With an empty martini glass at her elbow, teenager Serena van der Woodsen, star of the CW's "Gossip Girl," leans against the tony Manhattan bar and blithely downs another vodka concoction, unscathed. It's no surprise the frothy series about the sexy lifestyle of Upper East Side prepsters has some parents and reviewers in an uproar over its glamorized glimpse of underage drinking.

But the truth is, though American youths may not knock back limoncello and champagne as blithely as couture-clad Serena, TV shows such as "Gossip Girl" offer a fairly accurate depiction of teen partying across the country.

According to the U.S. surgeon general's office, underage consumption of beer and alcohol accounts for a quarter of alcohol sales.
. . . . . . .

Read Full Article
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Clinical and temperamental differences between early- and late-onset alcoholism in Korean men
Comprehensive Psychiatry Article in Press Online 20 August 2007

The aims of this study were to elucidate the clinical and temperamental differences between early- and late-onset alcoholism among Korean men and to ascertain the validity of Cloninger's typology model of alcoholism for Koreans.

Early-onset patients exhibited more criminality , suicide attempts and family history of alcoholism . With regard to the tridimensional personality questionnaire profile, the early-onset patients exhibited a higher score of novelty seeking, with the difference still being significant after adjusting for age by analysis of covariance (using age as a covariate) . However, harm avoidance reward dependence, and persistence did not differ between the 2 groups.

There were several distinct clinical and temperamental differences between early- and late-onset alcoholism among Korean male alcoholic patients. It is suggested that the age at the onset of alcoholism can be used to discriminate alcoholic subtypes. Our data also partly support Cloninger's typology of 2 types of alcoholic individuals.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: leehjeong@korea.ac

Modelling Over Week Patterns of Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol and Alcoholism Advance Access published online on October 22, 2007






This study aims to analyze alcohol consumption patterns throughout a week, controlled by socio-demographic characteristics, and to discuss the adequacy of the complex models employed.

Bayesian generalized additive mixed models (GAMM) were applied using two approaches: a multinomial model, with three categories of alcohol consumption behaviour including; non-drinkers, alcohol during meals only and alcohol at any time; and a gamma model for drinkers which considered the total amount of alcohol ingested per day.

The multinomial model captured two different patterns of alcohol consumption: a sharp increase in consumption on weekends for mealtime only drinkers, the dominant behaviour among drinkers and a linear increase from Monday towards Sunday for those who drank at anytime. The effect of higher education changed from slightly protective for mealtime only drinkers to risky for anytime drinkers. The amount of alcohol consumed presents a pattern similar to the meals-only drinking.

Alcohol consumption increased during the week. Two different alcohol consumption patterns were identified according to drinking behaviours. The methodological approach utilized was essential in uncovering these patterns.


<sup>Read Full Abstract


Request Reprint E-Mail:</sup> carlal@med.up.pt
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Press Release - NEW HEALTHCARE CODES TO LEVERAGE DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP
October 11, 2007

Codes Will Mainstream Substance Use Screening and Intervention in Healthcare Settings

(Washington, D.C.)—Today, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) announced the publication of new healthcare codes for substance abuse screening and brief intervention (SBI). The new Current Procedural Terminology (CPT�) codes, issued by the American Medical Association (AMA), will make it possible for the health care system to efficiently report screening services for drug and alcohol abuse. The process will increase the likelihood that those with substance use disorders will receive an appropriate intervention, thereby reducing the number of patients with substance use disorders. This is the first time that a physician can dedicate both time and resources to assess their patients' risky substance use characteristics and behaviors. The new healthcare codes will go into effect on January 1, 2008.
. . . . . . .

Read Full Press Release

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Super Heroes Battle Underage Drinking!

Hard Choices, a special comic book developed by SAMHSA in collaboration with Marvel Entertainment and the Elks USA, features Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four successfully battling underage drinking and urging kids to become real-life heroes by making healthy choices.

Order your free copy now!

NCADI

Hard Choices contributes to the Surgeon General’s Call to Action To Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking.

A free teacher’s guide with interactive activities for educators, parents, and youth leaders is automatically included with every order of 25 copies or more.

Get Involved!

• Encourage parents, teachers, and youth organizations to request free copies and distribute the comic book to kids.
• Spread the word about this new and exciting resource for
  Red Ribbon Week (October 23-31, 2007).
• Highlight the Hard Choices comic book with a web banner on your site, a description on your listserv, or a feature in your newsletter. Email ncadi-web@samhsa.hhs.gov for assistance.

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Press Release - New CASA* Report: Teen Cigarette Smoking Linked to Brain Damage, Alcohol and Illegal Drug Abuse, Mental Illness

Teen Cigarette Smokers Likelier to Meet Medical Criteria for Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Dependence

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - October 23, 2007) - The nicotine in tobacco products poses a significant danger of structural and chemical changes in developing brains that can make teens more vulnerable to alcohol and other drug addiction and to mental illness, according to Tobacco: The Smoking Gun, a new white paper released today by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University and commissioned by The Citizens' Commission to Protect the Truth, a group of all former U.S. Secretaries of Health, Education, and Welfare and of Health and Human Services, all former U.S. Surgeons General, and all former Directors of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Smoking and Alcohol and Illegal Drug Use

Compared to 12- to 17-year-olds who don't smoke, those who do are more than five times likelier to drink and 13 times likelier to use marijuana than nonsmokers.

Compared to those who never smoked, those who began smoking at age 12 or younger are:

--  More than three times likelier to binge drink;
--  Nearly 15 times likelier to smoke marijuana; and
--  Nearly seven times likelier to use other illegal drugs such as heroin
   and cocaine.

Read Full Press Release
  

Download White Paper Tobacco,The Smoking Gun  (PDF)
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BBPA slams calls for alcohol tax hike

23 October, 2007

By Katie Coyne

Health groups to push for 10 per cent tax increase on alcohol

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has hit out at health groups’ calls for a 10 per cent tax hike on alcohol to tackle drink-related problems.

The Alcohol Health Alliance coalition, made up of 21 health and temperance groups and headed by the Royal College of Physicians, wants alcohol taxation increased as well as more government regulation of the drinks industry.

The alliance, expected to officially launch next month, also wants to see health warnings placed on alcohol adverts and promotions to help curb binge-drinking.

But Mark Hastings, director of communications at the BBPA, said tax increases had already been proven not to work.

. . . . . . .

Read Full Article
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Evaluation of Alcohol Test Purchasing - Andy MacGregor Report

23 October 2007

In February 2005, following consideration of an independent evaluation of tobacco test purchasing pilots, the Lord Advocate revised prosecution policy to allow test purchasing of age restricted goods by children and young people under the age of 18, in circumstances where the purchaser is not committing a separate offence. This allowed test purchasing of fireworks, tobacco and other age restricted products, but not alcohol. While satisfied, in principle, that alcohol test purchasing would be an effective enforcement tool, the Lord Advocate remained concerned about the safety and welfare of the young people taking part in test purchasing exercises. It was agreed, therefore, that before the relevant provisions of the new Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 are generally commenced (probably 2009), a pilot exercise was to be undertaken. The aim of this pilot, conducted in Fife, was to assess test purchasing arrangements to enable common procedures and operating protocols to be developed to ensure that alcohol test purchasing can be carried out safely, fairly and effectively in a Scottish context.


Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. INTRODUCTION

2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
2.1 Aim of the Evaluation
2.2 Evaluation Objectives

3. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
3.1 Summary of Research Design
3.2 Data on Test Purchases
3.3 Young Volunteers
3.4 Key Stakeholder Views
3.4.1 Stakeholder Views - Baseline
3.4.2 Stakeholder Views - Impact
3.4.3 Stakeholder Views - Outcome
3.4.4 Stakeholder Views - Summary
3.5 Analysis

4. RESULTS
4.1 Licensee Interviews
4.1.1 Licensee Sample
4.1.2 Knowledge, Awareness and Views of Test Purchasing
4.1.3 Likelihood of Being Targeted During Pilot
4.1.4 Proof of Age Card Schemes
4.1.5 Training of Staff and Licensee Practice
4.1.6 Measures Aimed at Stopping Alcohol Sales to Underage Young People
4.1.7 Views of the Test Purchase Visit

4.2 Volunteer Interviews
4.2.1 Background Information
4.2.2 Involvement in the Test Purchase Pilot
4.2.3 Training and Briefing for the Pilot
4.2.4 Parental Reaction to Involvement in the Pilot
4.2.5 Perceptions of the Test Purchase Visits
4.2.6 Future Test Purchase Exercises

4.3 Interviews with Parents
4.3.1 Background Information
4.3.2 Awareness of the Progress of the Test Purchase Pilot
4.3.3 Perceptions of the Training and Briefing Programme
4.3.4 Views of Volunteer Participation in Test Purchasing Visits
4.3.5 Future Test Purchase Exercises

4.4 Interviews with Police Staff
4.4.1 Background Information
4.4.2 Test Purchase Test Failures
4.4.3 Feedback from Licensees
4.4.4 Views of Volunteer Participation in Test Purchase Pilot
4.4.5 Perceptions of Success of the Test Purchase Pilot
4.4.6 Measures Aimed at Stopping Alcohol Sales to Underage Young People
4.4.7 Ways Forward for the Test Purchasing Pilot

4.5 Interview with Procurator Fiscal
4.5.1 Background Information
4.5.2 Status of the Pilot in Fife
4.5.3 Impact on the Workload of Procurators Fiscal and the Courts
4.5.4 Links Between Procurators Fiscal, the Police and Licensing Boards
4.5.5 Perceptions of Success of the Pilot
4.5.6 Future of Alcohol Test Purchasing in Scotland

4.6 Views of Key Local Groups
4.6.1 Background Information
4.6.2 Impact on the Work of the Key Local Groups
4.6.3 Links between the Different Groups, Procurators Fiscal and the Police
4.6.4 Impact of the Pilot
4.6.5 Perceptions of Success of the Pilot
4.6.6 Future of Alcohol Test Purchasing in Scotland

4.7 Test Purchase Data Sheets
4.7.1 Background Information
4.7.2 Test Purchase Visits
4.7.3 Outcome of Test Purchase Visits
4.7.4 Aftermath of Test Purchase Visits

5. SUMMARY AND DISCUSSION
5.1 Views of Licensees
5.2 Views of Volunteers and Parents
5.3 Views of Police Respondents
5.4 Views of Procurator Fiscal
5.5 Views of Key Local Groups
5.6 Test Purchase Visits
5.7 Implications of the Alcohol Test Purchase Pilot

6. CONCLUSIONS

Download Full Report (PDF)
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Alcohol Harm Reduction- International Harm Reduction Association

IHRA Launch Alcohol Website and Network

The International Harm Reduction Association (IHRA) is pleased to announce the launch of a new website dedicated to the topic of alcohol harm reduction. The website aims to be a central source for information on this developing topic – including key events, publications, resources, contacts, and details of IHRA’s work in this field. The website will also be the home for IHRA’s new 'Global Alcohol Harm Reduction Network’ (GAHR-Net). IHRA’s Alcohol Harm Reduction home-page __________________________________________________________________-

Problem-free drinking over 16 years among individuals with alcohol use disorders
Drug and Alcohol Dependence Article in Press Published Online 23 August 2007

Limited data exist on the rates and long-term stability of non-problem drinking in individuals who sought help for an alcohol use disorder.

A sample of initially untreated individuals with alcohol use disorders (n = 420) was surveyed at baseline and 1 year and was re-assessed at 8 and 16 years.

In the 6 months prior to the 1-year assessment, 36% (n = 152) of participants reported abstinence from alcohol, 48% (n = 200) reported drinking with problems, and 16% (n = 68) reported non-problem drinking.

At each follow up, 16–21% of the sample reported non-problem drinking. Compared to individuals in the abstinent and problem-drinking groups, individuals who were drinking in a problem-free manner at 1 year had reported, at baseline, fewer days of intoxication, drinks per drinking day, alcohol dependence symptoms, and alcohol-related problems, less depression, and more adaptive coping mechanisms.

Over time, 48% of participants who engaged in non-problem drinking at 1 year continued to report positive outcomes (either non-problem drinking or abstinence) throughout the long-term follow-up, whereas 77% of those abstaining at 1 year reported positive outcomes throughout the same time period.

Additionally, 43% of individuals with problematic alcohol consumption at 1 year reported positive outcomes over the remaining follow-up interval, a rate that was not significantly different from the rate of positive outcomes of 48% observed in those with initial problem-free drinking.

Although some individuals report non-problem drinking a year after initially seeking help, this pattern of alcohol use is relatively infrequent and is less stable over time than is abstinence. An accurate understanding of the long-term course of alcohol use and problems could help shape expectations about the realistic probability of positive outcomes for individuals considering moderate drinking as a treatment goal.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: mark.ilgen@va.gov

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Evidence for a two-stage model of dependence using the NESARC and its implications for genetic association studies
Drug and Alcohol Dependence Article in Press 22 October 2007



Some twin studies suggest that substance initiation and dependence are part of a complex, two-stage process and that some genetic influences are stage-specific, acting on either the transition from abstinence to initiation, or on the transition from use to dependence. However, questions remain about the two-stage model, especially for illicit drugs.

Using a familial aggregation design, we tested the hypothesized two-stage model of dependence on illicit substances and alcohol in a large, nationally representative sample.

Family history of drug or alcohol problems is significantly associated with initiation that does not progress to dependence (i.e., conditional initiation). Furthermore, family history of drug or alcohol problems is significantly associated with dependence even after conditioning on factors influencing initiation (i.e., conditional dependence).

These results suggest that substance initiation and dependence involve at least partially distinct familial factors. The possibility that different genetic factors affect initiation and dependence has important implications for control group selection in case–control genetic association studies, and may explain some inconsistent results for drug dependence. If some genetic factors are stage-specific (i.e., not common across initiation and dependence), inclusion of abstainers in the control group may mix the genetic effects for initiation with those for transition to dependence, providing unclear results.

Depending on the specific question about the nature of the genetic effect (whether on initiation, on dependence, or both), investigators designing case–control genetic association studies should carefully consider inclusion and exclusion criteria of the control group.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: dsh2@columbia.edu
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Determinants of within-country variation in traffic accident mortality in Italy: a geographical analysis
International Journal of Health Geographics 2007, 6:49

To identify determinants of regional differences in traffic accident mortality in Italy. Data and methods Multiple linear regression models were conducted assessing the associations between regional differences in traffic mortality, case fatality and accident rates (dependent variables) with socio-demographic factors, and variables describing road behaviour, vehicles, infrastucture and medical care (independent variables)

In Italy large regional differences in traffic mortality rates can be observed, ranging from 5.5 to 20 per 100.000 person-years. There is a North-South gradient with higher mortality rates in the Northern part of Italy. Strong predictors of regional differences in both traffic mortality and accident rates are the employment rate (directly associated) and alcohol use (directly associated). This is observed in the whole of Italy, and separately in Northern and southern regions.

Our study has shown the need for regional policies to improve road behaviour to reduce traffic accident and mortality rates in identified high-risk areas.

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Mapping Substance Use in BC and Canada: A report of the BC Pilot Alcohol and Other Drug Monitoring Project

Executive Summary

The objective of the BC Pilot Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Monitoring Project (see http://www.carbc.ca/Home/Projects/tabid/232/ctl/ArticleView/mid/891/articleId/30/Default.aspx) is the building of a system to provide timely data on risky patterns of substance use and related harms as a means of supporting more effective policy-making, facilitating research on substance use and informing public debate. Significant progress has been made towards this objective through the development and piloting of a multi-component system to provide the required data, highlights of which include the following:

• Buy-in from key federal and provincial government bodies in the form of continued funding and representation on a project steering committee co-chaired by the BC Provincial Health Officer and Director of BC Mental Health and Addiction Services.

• Continued collaboration across multiple research agencies and individuals drawn variously from the tertiary education, government, health authority and non-government sectors.

• Hosting of an international research symposium regarding national and international experiences with AOD monitoring systems in which there were 90 attendees and 36 written papers presented from 11 countries. The proceedings of the symposium will also being prepared for special issues of a peer-reviewed journal.

• Design of consistent questions on patterns, levels and consequences of substance use across samples of the general population (n=11,000 for Canada per year, at least 1,000 per year for BC), school children (n=45,000 for BC in 2008), club drug and rave attendees (200 per year in BC), street entrenched injecting drug users (IDUs, 200 per year in BC), street involved youth (200 per year in BC) and emergency department attendees (500 to 1000 per year in BC).

• Effective links with national data collection exercises for BC data collection exercises for most components of the monitoring system (CADUMS, provincial school surveys, national treatment system data, national drug analysis services, mortality and morbidity estimates).

• Pilot testing of three new surveys of high risk populations (see http://www.carbc.ca/Home/Projects/tabid/232/ctl/ArticleView/mid/891/articleId/30/Default.aspx ) which will generate a total sample of 600 respondents from Vancouver and Victoria.
• Analysis of BC’s world class alcohol sales data to estimate per adult rates of alcohol consumption across 28 areas of BC (see Figure 9.4).

• Analysis of trends and geographic variation in size and purity of cocaine seizures made by police in British Columbia over the past two decade.

• Health Authority level data for British Columbia for rates of alcohol, tobacco and drug-caused mortality and morbidity, per capita alcohol consumption, cocaine seizures and addiction treatment services.

Read Full Executive Summary (PDF)
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'Scare tactics' fail to prevent binge drinking

Tue 23 Oct 2007

LINDSAY MCINTOSH (lmcintosh@scotsman.com)

SCOTS are binge drinking because they believe "everyone else is doing it", a leading American expert warned yesterday.

New York academic Dr Wesley Perkins spoke out at a seminar at the Scottish Parliament, on the same day the government launched an alcohol awareness week, aimed at encouraging drinkers to acknowledge how much they are consuming.

"Traditional prevention strategies are not working, whether we are trying to educate young people about the influence of alcohol upon them, or we are trying to scare them," he told the think tank Scotland's Futures Forum.
. . . . . . .

Read Full Article

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In Defense of "Dependence"
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research (OnlineEarly Articles). 19 October 2007





Extract
There is a recent recommendation that the word ‘‘addiction’’ be added to the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) in place of ‘‘dependence’’ (O’Brien et al., 2006). Support for this recommendation has been mixed in the form of letters to the editor about the original editorial (Am J Psychiat, Nov 2006) and several papers in a supplement issue of the journal Addiction in 2006. However, the issue needs further discussion to determine whether there should be a change in DSM-V.
. . . . . . .
To summarize, the term ‘‘addiction’’ is a popular term, not an accurate clinical or scientific term. To replace ‘‘dependence’’ with ‘‘addiction’’ in the DSM would be a step backward scientifically, it would confuse ongoing stigma-reduction strategies of grassroots organizations, and there is no evidence for (and no strategy to implement) the idea that use of the word ‘‘addiction’’ would in any way reduce the suffering of chronic pain patients. We are scientists. Let us get the evidence
before we make a serious terminology change such as this one.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: erickson.carl@mail.utexas.edu
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Equity In Private Insurance Coverage For Substance Abuse: A Perspective On Parity
Health Affairs, published online 23 October 2007


Congress is considering enactment of comprehensive parity legislation. The intent of parity is to equalize private coverage of behavioral and general medical care, thereby improving efficiency and fairness in insurance markets0.

One issue is whether to extend parity to substance abuse (SA) benefits. In the past, inclusion of substance abuse has been a hurdle to passage of parity.

We examine the politics of SA parity, compare coverage trends for substance abuse and mental health, and assess the rationale for equalizing benefits.

We conclude that the justification for SA parity is as compelling as it is for mental health parity.

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Combined Effect of Low-Risk Dietary and Lifestyle Behaviors in Primary Prevention of Myocardial Infarction in Women
Vol. 167 No. 19, October 22, 2007
Arch Intern Med. 2007;167:2122-2127.
Vol

Limited data are available on the benefit of combining healthy dietary and lifestyle behaviors in the prevention of myocardial infarction (MI) in women.

We used factor analysis to identify a low-risk behavior–based dietary pattern in 24 444 postmenopausal women from the population-based prospective Swedish Mammography Cohort who were free of diagnosed cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus at baseline (September 15, 1997). We also defined 3 low-risk lifestyle factors: nonsmoking, waist-hip ratio less than the 75th percentile (<> physically active (at least 40 minutes of daily walking or bicycling and 1 hour of weekly exercise).

During 6.2 years (151 434 person-years) of follow-up, we ascertained 308 cases of primary MI. Two major identified dietary patterns, "healthy" and "alcohol," were significantly associated with decreased risk of MI. The low-risk diet (high scores for the healthy dietary pattern) characterized by a high intake of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, fish, and legumes, in combination with moderate alcohol consumption ( 5 g of alcohol per day), along with the 3 low-risk lifestyle behaviors, was associated with 92% decreased risk compared with findings in women without any low-risk diet and lifestyle factors. This combination of healthy behaviors, present in 5%, may prevent 77% of MIs in the study population.

Most MIs in women may be preventable by consuming a healthy diet and moderate amounts of alcohol, being physically active, not smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: Agneta.Akesson@ki.se
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