High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Apoprotein A1 in Healthy Volunteers during Long-Term Moderate Alcohol Intake

Abstract

Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with lower cardiovascular mortality. The effect of moderate alcohol intake during 5 weeks on lipoproteins, especially on the high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol total (of which the levels are inversely predictive of coronary heart disease) and apoproteins A, A1 and B, was studied in 7 normal men. HDL cholesterol total appreciated by the heparin manganese precipitation method and phosphotungstate magnesium method increased (p less than 0.01) during alcohol consumption. The composition of HDL was modified by alcohol consumption: increase of the esterified/total cholesterol ratio (p less than 0.05) and phospholipids (p less than 0.05) without significant modification of triglycerides. Low density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein did not vary significantly. Apoprotein A1 increased during alcohol consumption (p less than 0.05) with a transitory increase of apoprotein A. There was no significant modification of apoprotein B.