Dietary alcohol and fat differentially affect plasma cholesteryl ester transfer activity and triglycerides in normo- and hypertriglyceridemic subjects

Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with increased ‘good’ plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol concentrations and reduced risk for cardiovascular disease. Plasma cholesteryl ester transfer activity mediates the exchange of HDL-cholesteryl ester (CE) for the triacylglycerol (TAG) of very-low-density lipoproteins.
Scientists compared the effects of three challenges, Alcohol, saturated fat, and (Alcohol + saturated fat), on plasma cholesteryl ester transfer activity, cholesterol, nonesterified fatty acids, and triacylglycerol among normo-triglyceridemic and mildly hypertriglyceridemic volunteers having a range of plasma triacylglycerol concentrations.
The major changes were (1) cholesteryl ester transfer activity increased more after ingestion of saturated fat and (Alcohol + saturated fat) in the HTG group versus the normo-triglyceridemic group; (2) after all three challenges, elevation of plasma triacylglycerol concentration persisted longer in the mildly hypertriglyceridemic versus normo-triglyceridemic group. Plasma cholesterol was not affected by the three dietary challenges, while alcohol increased nonesterified fatty acids more in the mildly hypertriglyceridemic group than the normo-triglyceridemic group. Plasma triacylglycerol best predicted plasma cholesteryl ester transfer activity, suggesting that intestinally derived lipoproteins are acceptors of HDL-CE. Unexpectedly, ingestion of (Alcohol + saturated fat) reduced the strength of the correlation between plasma triacylglycerol and cholesteryl ester transfer activity, that is the effects of (saturated fat and Alcohol) on plasma cholesteryl ester transfer activity are not synergistic nor additive but rather mutually suppressive.
The researchers conclude that the alcohol-mediated inhibition of HDL-cholesteryl ester transfer to chylomicrons maintains a higher plasma HDL-cholesterol concentration, which is athero-protective, although the suppressive metabolite underlying this correlation could be acetate, the terminal alcohol metabolite, other factors, including cholesteryl ester transfer activity inhibitors, are also likely important.
Source: Gaubatz, John & Kurins, Baiba & Rosales, Corina & Pownall, Henry. (2020). Dietary Alcohol and Fat Differentially Affect Plasma Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Activity and Triglycerides in Normo-and Hypertriglyceridemic Subjects. Lipids. 55.