Association of alcohol consumption with HDL subpopulations defined by apolipoprotein A-I and apolipoprotein A-II content

Objective: To investigate the relationship between alcohol intake and serum level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) subfractions defined on the basis of their apolipoprotein A-I content (LpA-I and LpA-I;A-II). Design: Observational study. Setting: Institute of Internal Medicine and Medical Physiopathology, IRCCS Maggiore Hospital, University of Milan. Subjects: One hundred healthy males with a mean age of 42 +/- 11.1 y, selected among blood donors. Results: Both LpA-I and LpA-I:A-II were significantly higher in men drinking more the 30 g a day of alcohol than in non-drinkers (LpA-I: difference between means 6.5 mg/dL, 95% C.I 1.14-1.19; LpA-I:A-II difference between means 11.5 mg/dL, 95% C.I.0.52-22.5). The association of alcohol consumption with LpA-I and LpA-I:A-II levels was independent from age, body mass index, physical activity, serum triglycerides and diet composition. Conclusions: Alcohol consumption is associated with an increase of serum levels of both LpA-I and LpA-I:A-II particles and this may, at least in part, explain the reduced cardiovascular morbidity observed in subjects drinking moderate amounts of alcoholic beverages.