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Moderate alcohol consumption increases cholesterol efflux mediated by ABCA1
J W J Beulens1, A Sierksma, A van Tol
1Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Nutrition and Food Research, Zeist, The Netherlands.
Journal of Lipid Research
|July 3, 2004
Summary
Moderate alcohol consumption, like whisky, enhances the body's ability to remove cholesterol. This study found increased cholesterol efflux capacity in men who consumed moderate amounts of alcohol daily.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Metabolic Pathways
- Lipid Metabolism
Background:
- Moderate alcohol consumption is linked to increased HDL cholesterol.
- HDL cholesterol plays a crucial role in reverse cholesterol transport (RCT).
- The specific impact of alcohol on RCT pathway parameters requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of moderate alcohol consumption on cholesterol efflux.
- To examine changes in other parameters of the reverse cholesterol transport pathway.
- To determine if alcohol consumption influences ABCA1-dependent cholesterol efflux.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, partially diet-controlled, crossover trial involving 23 healthy men (45-65 years).
- Participants consumed four glasses of whisky (40 g alcohol) or water daily for 17 days.
- Cholesterol efflux capacity was measured using J774 mouse macrophages and Fu5AH cells.
Main Results:
- Whisky consumption significantly increased serum capacity for ABCA1-dependent cholesterol efflux by 17.5% compared to water.
- Plasma capacity for cholesterol efflux from Fu5AH cells increased by 4.6%.
- Prebeta-HDL, apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), and lipoprotein A-I:A-II levels were elevated post-whisky consumption.
Conclusions:
- Moderate alcohol intake enhances serum's capacity to induce cholesterol efflux.
- The ABCA1 transporter may mediate the observed increase in cholesterol efflux.
- Lean men demonstrated higher cholesterol efflux capacities than overweight men.