Associations between alcohol consumption and HDL subspecies

Alcohol consumption increases circulating high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), but HDL protein cargo may better reflect HDL function. Researchers from Harvard and the University of Copenhagen examined the associations between alcohol intake and HDL subspecies containing or lacking apoC3, apoE, and apoJ in a well-phenotyped cohort.
A cross-sectional analysis was performed of 2,092 Cardiovascular Health Study participants aged 70 or older with HDL subspecies measured in stored specimens from 1998-99. Associations between alcohol intake and apoA1 defined HDL subspecies lacking or containing apoC3, apoE, and apoJ, and circulating levels of total apoA1, apoC3, apoE, and apoJ were examined.
The study found that HDL subspecies lacking and containing apoC3, apoE, and apoJ were all positively associated with alcohol intake, with ~1% per additional drink per week or ~7% per additional drink per day. Total apoA1 was also directly associated with alcohol consumption, with a 1% increase per additional drink per week. Total apoC3 blood levels were 0.5% higher per additional drink per week, but the association was driven by a few heavily drinking men.
The researchers conclude that alcohol intake was positively associated with HDL subspecies lacking and containing apoC3, apoE, or apoJ, and with total plasma apoA1. ApoC3 was directly, albeit not as robustly associated with alcohol intake. HDL protein cargo is crucial for its anti-atherosclerotic functions, but the study authors say that it remains to be determined whether HDL subspecies play a role in the putative association between limited alcohol intake and lower risk of coronary heart disease.
Source: Associations between Alcohol Consumption and HDL Subspecies Defined by ApoC3, ApoE and ApoJ: the Cardiovascular Health Study. Curr Probl Cardiol. 2022 Sep 10:101395. doi.org/10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2022.101395.