EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL USE AND OTHER HEALTH PRACTICES ON BLOOD CHEMISTRIES AND BLOOD PRESSURE

Assessment of alcohol consumption, physical activity, nicotineuse, diet patterns, blood pressure, height, and weight was donefor 179 males. Subjects from four different populations weresampled to assure that the entire range of alcohol consumptionfrom abstainers to alcoholics was represented. A blood chemistryprofile of 33 tests, which included hematological parameters,lipids, electrolytes and minerals, renal function tests, andindicators of liver function was done for each subject. Testsof liver function and mean corpuscular volume were most stronglyrelated to alcohol consumption. In contrast, there were otherblood tests which were significantly related to nicotine use,age, body fatness or physical activity, but not to alcohol intake.Blood pressure, red blood cell count, and triglycerides weresignificantly related to several factors including alcohol consumption.The effect of alcohol on the blood chemistry profile was distinguishedfrom the effects of nicotine, diet, body fatness, age and physicalactivity.