The effect of alcohol consumption on lipid parameters

Abstract

Background: Though views of various authors have varied with regards to moderate alcohol consumption, they however agree that excessive alcohol  consumption has a deleterious effect on the cardiovascular system. Dyslipidaemia has been implicated as risk factors for cardiovascular disease and mild  to moderate alcohol consumption is said to be cardioprotective. The cardioprotective effect of alcohol has been debated upon, is it from the ethanol  molecule or as a result of the presence of antioxidant in the alcoholic beverages? The study compared cholesterol parameters with daily quantity of alcohol in residents of Rumuekini community dwellers.

Method: Forty-one male subjects who consented to be part of the studies had their blood sample collected after an overnight fast. They were made to fill  a questionnaire which provided information on their occupation, symptoms and history of alcohol consumption. The quantity of alcohol was assessed  and the study population was divided into 3 groups; based on amount of daily alcohol consumption to mild, moderate and severe.

Results:  Forty-one (41) men consented to be part of the studies, with mean age range from 19yrs to 91yrs with mean ± SD age of 34.49 ± 17.25yrs., mean ± SD  systolic blood pressure of 128.10 ± 21.92mmHg and mean ±SD diastolic blood pressure of 77.20 ± 14.87mmHg, mean± SD daily value of alcohol  consumed was 74.24 ± 43.34g/day, the mean ±SD of total cholesterol of 181.53 ± 41.43mg/dl, mean ±SD of triglyceride of 139.84± 40.18mg/dl, mean± SD  low density lipoprotein of 79.34 ± 26.10 mg/dl and mean± SD of high density lipoprotein of 62.75 ± 13.54mg/dl. Excessive alcohol drinking was associated  with lower total cholesterol LDL and TG when compared with mild consumers and moderate alcohol with higher HDL

Conclusion: In the index study we  noted that alcohol generally reduced total cholesterol in a linear fashion, however this was at a summed effect of reducing LDL, increasing HDL and  reducing TG. It is however important to note that the beneficial effect of these changes was best seen in those who took alcohol of 51-100g/day but even  this benefit was at a cost of a high triglyceride level. Most of the drinkers consumed beer and local gin and non-admitted to taking red wine therefore the  active molecule in this study was ethanol.