Moderate alcohol consumption lowers risk factors for cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women fed a controlled diet

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 75; no. 3; pp. 593 - 599
• Main Authors: BAER, David J, JUDD, Joseph T, CLEVIDENCE, Beverly A, MUESING, Richard A, CAMPBELL, William S, BROWN, Ellen D, TAYLOR, Philip R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD American Society for Clinical Nutrition 01.03.2002; American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc
• Subjects: Aged; Alcohol; Alcohol Drinking - blood; Alcohol Drinking - metabolism; Apolipoprotein A-I - blood; Apolipoproteins B - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiopathies: etiologic forms (general aspects and miscellaneous); Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Cholesterol; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; Cross-Over Studies; Diet; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Ethanol - administration & dosage; Female; Heart; Humans; Lipids - blood; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Postmenopause; Risk Factors; Triglycerides - blood; Women; Human; Prevention; Lipemia; Ethanol; Postmenopause; Lipids; Cardiovascular disease; Female; Supplemented diet; Triglyceride; Cholesterol; Feeding
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/75.3.593

Moderate alcohol consumption (1-2 drinks/d) may decrease cardiovascular disease risk in postmenopausal women by improving lipid profiles. We measured the effect of moderate alcohol consumption on lipids and lipoproteins in postmenopausal women. Postmenopausal women (n = 51) consumed 0 (control), 15 (1 drink), and 30 (2 drinks) g alcohol (ethanol)/d for 8 wk each as part of a controlled diet in a randomized crossover design. The control diet provided approximately 15%, 53%, and 32% of energy from protein, carbohydrate, and fat, respectively. The energy provided from alcohol in the 15- and 30-g alcohol diets was replaced with energy from carbohydrate. Compared with concentrations after the control diet, plasma LDL cholesterol decreased from 3.45 to 3.34 mmol/L (P = 0.04) and triacylglycerol from 1.43 to 1.34 mmol/L (P = 0.05) after 15 g alcohol/d. There were no additional significant decreases in either lipid after an increase in alcohol intake from 15 to 30 g/d. Compared with concentrations after the control diet, plasma HDL cholesterol increased nonsignificantly from 1.40 to 1.43 mmol/L after 15 g alcohol/d but increased to 1.48 mmol/L after 30 g alcohol/d (P = 0.02). Apolipoprotein A-I increased significantly and apolipoprotein B decreased significantly after 30 g alcohol/d relative to the concentration after the control diet. Consumption of 15-30 g alcohol/d by postmenopausal women apparently decreases cardiovascular disease risk by improving lipid profiles. Plasma LDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations improve after 15 g alcohol/d; plasma HDL cholesterol improves only after 30 g alcohol/d.