RT Journal
A1 Cushman WC, Hanna E
T1 FAilure of alcohol reduction to lower blood pressure in the paths trial
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 1999
FD January 25
VO 159
IS 2
SP 195
OP 196
DO 
UL http://dx.doi.org/
AB 
We thank Bulpitt and Shipley for their comments concerning the results from the Prevention and Treatment of Hypertension Study (PATHS),1 a trial of 641 moderate to heavy drinkers with above normal to mildly elevated diastolic blood pressure, randomized to an intervention to lower alcohol intake or to a control group. They suggest that we were unable to confirm a consistent reduction in (diastolic) blood pressure because there may not be a relationship between alcohol and blood pressure at levels below 500 g/wk, which is equivalent to 5.1 drinks per day as we calculated it (14 g per drink).2