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Associations between Alcohol Consumption and HDL Subspecies Defined by ApoC3, ApoE and ApoJ: the Cardiovascular
Trine L Wilkens1, Helle Sørensen2, Majken K Jensen3
1From Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Section for Preventive and Clinical Nutrition, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
Insights
Moderate alcohol intake is linked to increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) subspecies, including those with apoC3, apoE, and apoJ. This suggests alcohol may influence HDL composition, potentially impacting cardiovascular health.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Lipid Metabolism
- Nutritional Epidemiology
Background:
- Alcohol consumption is known to raise high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C).
- However, the protein cargo of HDL particles may offer a more functional measure of HDL's role in cardiovascular health.
- Understanding the relationship between alcohol intake and specific HDL subspecies is crucial for elucidating its cardioprotective effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the associations between alcohol consumption patterns and various HDL subspecies defined by the presence or absence of apolipoproteins (apo) C3, E, and J.
- To examine the relationship between alcohol intake and circulating levels of total apoA1, apoC3, apoE, and apoJ.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of 2092 participants from the Cardiovascular Health Study (age ≥ 70 years).
- Measurement of HDL subspecies and apolipoprotein levels from stored serum specimens (1998-1999).
- Statistical examination of associations between weekly and daily alcohol intake and HDL subspecies and apolipoprotein levels.
Main Results:
- All examined HDL subspecies, both lacking and containing apoC3, apoE, and apoJ, were positively associated with alcohol intake.
- A significant positive association was observed between alcohol consumption and total apoA1 levels.
- Total apoC3 levels showed a modest positive association with alcohol intake, primarily driven by heavily drinking men.
Conclusions:
- Alcohol intake is positively associated with a range of HDL subspecies and total apoA1.
- While apoC3 levels also showed a positive association, it was less robust.
- Further research is needed to determine if these alcohol-induced changes in HDL subspecies contribute to the observed reduced risk of coronary heart disease with moderate alcohol consumption.
Abstract:
Alcohol consumption increases circulating high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), but HDL protein cargo may better reflect HDL function. This study examined the associations between alcohol intake and HDL subspecies containing or lacking apoC3, apoE, and apoJ in a well-phenotyped cohort. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 2092 Cardiovascular Health Study participants aged 70 or older with HDL subspecies measured in stored specimens from 1998 to 1999. 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. 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 (subspecies without the apolipoproteins, P ≤ 2 × 10-9, subspecies with the apolipoproteins, P ≤ 3 × 10-5). Total apoA1 was also directly associated with alcohol consumption, with a 1% increase per additional drink per week (P = 1 × 10-14). Total apoC3 blood levels were 0.5% higher per additional drink per week (P = 0.01), but the association was driven by a few heavily drinking men. 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 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.
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