An inverse association between serum leptin concentration and reported alcohol intake in patients with manifest vascular disease

International audience; Background/Objectives: It has been reported that alcohol stimulates appetite. We aimed to establish the association between leptin, as a major food intake regulating factor, and alcohol intake in patients with chronic manifest coronary artery or cerebrovascular disease. Subjects/Methods: A cross-sectional study of 820 subjects after acute coronary syndrome, coronary revascularisation or after first ischemic stroke. (Czech part of EUROASPIRE III surveys). Leptin concentration were evaluated among predefined categories of reported weekly alcohol intake: abstainers, light drinkers (up to 2 drinks weekly, 1-44 g of pure alcohol), mild regular drinkers (3-14 drinks weekly, 45-308 g) and moderate or heavy drinkers (more than 15 drinks, ≥ 309 g of alcohol). Results: The leptin showed a clear negative trend among alcohol intake categories. Mild regular drinkers showed significantly lower leptin [9.3(8.2)ng/mL], than abstainers [18.7(18.7) ng/mL, p