Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of moderate dose alcohol consumption on human metabolic and cardiovascular responses during submaximal exercise.
Method: Ten female subjects participated in two experimental conditions: (1) an alcohol session where the subjects ingested 0.625 g per kg body weight of 80-proof ethyl alcohol (0.25 g/kg of 100% ethanol), and (2) a placebo session. In each session, the subjects exercised on a stationary bicycle at 70% predicted maximum heart rate (HR) for 30 minutes. HR, blood pressure (BP) and oxygen consumption (VO2) were measured at the baseline and at 10, 20 and 30 minute intervals during exercise. Blood lactic acid (BLA) was measured at the baseline and at the end of exercise.
Results: Repeated analysis of variance and subsequent comparisons showed that the alcohol session had significantly higher scores for HR, BP, VO2 and BLA than the placebo session (p < .05).
Conclusions: These results suggest that during submaximal work, acute moderate alcohol consumption may interfere with aerobic energy metabolism, thus increasing the demand placed upon the cardiovascular system.