Ethanol-induced hypertriglyceridemia. Prevalence and contributing factors

Seventy-seven chronic alcoholic subjects admitted to two alcoholic detoxification centers were evaluated for lipid abnormalities. Nineteen (26%) of these male patients had serum triglyceride levels greater than 150 mg/100 ml and six (9%) had serum cholesterol levels greater than 250 mg/100 ml. Compared to 33 age-matched, nonalcoholic control subjects, there was a significantly greater incidence of hypertriglyceridemia in the alcoholic subjects. All patients with triglyceride abnormalities had type IV electrophoretic patterns. The triglyceride elevations were not related to serum amylase, lipase, liver function, obesity, and abnormal fasting glucose. We conclude that there is a significant increase in hypertriglyceridemia in chronic alcoholic patients.