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Alcohol: a nutrient with multiple salutary effects
Henry J Pownall1,2, Corina Rosales3, Baiba K Gillard4
1Department of Cardiology, Division of Atherosclerosis, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Fondren F8-047, 6670 Bertner St., Houston, TX 77030, USA. hjpownall@houstonmethodist.org.
Nutrients
|March 21, 2015
Summary
Alcohol
Area of Science:
- Metabolic effects of alcohol
- Cardiovascular disease research
- Lipid and lipoprotein metabolism
Background:
- Alcohol consumption is linked to lower cardiovascular disease rates.
- Acetate, alcohol's metabolite, has insulinemic properties.
- Acetate is identified as a ligand for G-protein coupled receptor 43 (GPCR43) in adipose tissue.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a mechanistic model for alcohol's cardioprotective effects.
- To connect acetate-GPCR43 interaction with lipid and lipoprotein effects.
- To explore acetate as a potential therapeutic agent for cardiovascular health.
Main Methods:
- Recasting alcohol's lipid effects within the context of GPCR43.
- Developing a mechanistic model of acetate-GPCR43 interaction.
- Reviewing existing literature on alcohol's metabolic effects.
Main Results:
- A model is proposed where acetate binding to adipose GPCR43 influences lipid metabolism.
- This interaction may explain some cardioprotective effects of alcohol.
- Acetate administration could potentially mimic beneficial effects of alcohol.
Conclusions:
- Acetate's interaction with GPCR43 offers a novel target for cardiovascular disease prevention.
- Acetate may serve as an alternative to alcohol for improving lipid profiles and glucose disposal.
- Further research is needed to validate acetate's role in energy metabolism and cardiovascular health.
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