1–2 drinks per day affect lipoprotein composition after 3 weeks

1–2 drinks per day affect lipoprotein composition after 3 weeks
Alcohol consumption ranging from 1–2 drinks/day is associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease in some studies. The underlying mechanisms are unclear.
The Metabolic Imprints of Alcoholic Beverages (MetAl) trial aimed to explore the short-term effects of moderate alcohol consumption on cardiovascular biomarkers. A 2 × 3-week cross-over single-blinded intervention trial investigating the effect of 1–2 drinks/day (~12–24 g) compared with abstention on 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance-measured main lipoproteins and subfractions was performed in 26 healthy adults. Volunteers were classified as occasional or habitual drinkers based on their habitual alcohol intakes (<2 or ≥2 drinks/week).
Compared with abstention, 1–2 drinks/day increased ‘good cholesterol HDL2a-C (p = 0.004), HDL3-C (p = 0.008), and HDL non-significantly (p = 0.19). Total apoA1 and apoA1 in HDL and its subfractions increased (p < 0.05). Novel findings were a decreased apoB/apoA1 ratio (p = 0.02), and increased HDL2a phospholipid content (p = 0.04). In women alone, the results were similar but attenuated, and LDL-P decreased. Thus, changes in apoA1- and HDL-related biomarkers occur within weeks in moderate drinkers.
This study found that compared with abstention, 1–2 drinks/day increased total apoA1 more strongly than HDL-C and increased the cholesterol, apoA1, and phospholipid content of several HDL subfractions. To what degree this provides cardiovascular benefit requires further study, the authors comment.
Source: Wilkens TL, Ziegler Z, Aru V, Khakimov B, Overgaard SL, Engelsen SB, Dragsted LO. 1–2 Drinks Per Day Affect Lipoprotein Composition after 3 Weeks—Results from a Cross-Over Pilot Intervention Trial in Healthy Adults Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance-Measured Lipoproteins and Apolipoproteins. Nutrients. 2022; 14(23):5043.