Abstract

Heart failure is the leading worldwide cause of morbidity, myocardial infarctions and mortality whose causes impose staggering costs and often lengthy hospitalizations. The specific reasons (or mechanisms) to explain or predict atrial arrhythmias in alcoholics or” binge- drinkers” are not known. The authors present evidence for a novel, new hypothesis whereby low tissue and serum levels of ionized magnesium(Mg2+) coupled to release of ceramides and platelet-activating factor (PAF) act to increase risk for cardiac atrial arrhythmias in people who imbibe too much alcoholic spirits over a short-period of time(i.e., binge-drinkers) or are alcohol abusers. The authors discuss several mechanisms whereby low Mg2+ and the generation of PAF and ceramides produce a high probability for atrial arrhythmias in alcoholics. The importance of adequate water-borne and dietary levels of Mg is emphasized

Keywords: Alcohol abuse; Sphingolipids; PAF; Ionized magnesium; Microcirculation