Effects of regular alcohol consumption on 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure recordings

1. Regular consumption of 1 g/kg of alcohol for 4 days did not significantly alter mean 24 h blood pressures compared with a similar period when dextrose was consumed to match caloric intake. 2. In contrast, the variability of diastolic blood pressure was increased by regular alcohol consumption. 3. Increased blood pressure variability in response to the stress of blood pressure measurement may contribute to the observed association between hypertension and alcohol consumption.