Moderate Alcohol Intake May Slow HDL Decline Over Time

Moderate alcohol consumption is linked to slower declines in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol over time, according to new research.

Findings from previous studies on the relationship between alcohol consumption and HDL cholesterol have been inconsistent, and data suggest the relationship may be complex.

To further assess the relationship, the researchers studied 80,081 adults from China with a mean age of 49 years who did not have cardiovascular diseases or cancer and did not use cholesterol-lowering treatments during the study period.

The participants completed a questionnaire to self-report alcohol intake at baseline in 2006, and the researchers measured HDL levels at baseline and follow-ups in 2008, 2010, and 2012.

The participants were categorized based on their alcohol intake as never, past, light (0-0.4 servings/d for women, 0-0.9 servings/d for men), moderate (0.5-1.0 servings/d for women, 1-2 servings/d for men), and heavy drinkers (>1 servings/d for women, >2 servings/d for men).
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After adjusting for variables such as age, sex, smoking, and other potential confounders, the researchers found that moderate alcohol drinkers experienced the slowest decreased rate in HDL at 0.017 mmol/l per year compared with past (0.012), light (0.013), and heavy (0.008) drinkers.

Moderate alcohol consumption was also associated with the slowest increase in total cholesterol/HDL and triglyceride/HDL ratios among all groups.

Secondary analysis of hard liquor consumption showed similar findings among light and moderate drinkers, and moderate beer consumption was associated with slower HDL decreases in a dose-response manner.

“Alcohol consumption was associated with slower HDL decreases, with moderate consumption slowest,” the researchers concluded. “However, the data suggested differential effects on the basis of alcoholic beverage type.”

—Amanda Balbi

Reference:

Huang S, Li J, Shearer GC, et al. Abstract 16261: Longitudinal study of alcohol consumption and high-density lipoprotein concentrations: a community-based study. Circulation. 2016;134:A16261. http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/134/Suppl_1/A16261. Accessed November 14, 2016.