Moderate alcohol consumption lowers risk factors for cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women fed a controlled diet.
BACKGROUND
Moderate alcohol consumption (1-2 drinks/d) may decrease cardiovascular disease risk in postmenopausal women by improving lipid profiles.


OBJECTIVE
We measured the effect of moderate alcohol consumption on lipids and lipoproteins in postmenopausal women.


METHODS
Postmenopausal women (n = 51) consumed 0 (control), 15 (1 drink), and 30 (2 drinks) g alcohol (ethanol)/d for 8 wk each as part of a controlled diet in a randomized crossover design. The control diet provided approximately 15%, 53%, and 32% of energy from protein, carbohydrate, and fat, respectively. The energy provided from alcohol in the 15- and 30-g alcohol diets was replaced with energy from carbohydrate.


RESULTS
Compared with concentrations after the control diet, plasma LDL cholesterol decreased from 3.45 to 3.34 mmol/L (P = 0.04) and triacylglycerol from 1.43 to 1.34 mmol/L (P = 0.05) after 15 g alcohol/d. There were no additional significant decreases in either lipid after an increase in alcohol intake from 15 to 30 g/d. Compared with concentrations after the control diet, plasma HDL cholesterol increased nonsignificantly from 1.40 to 1.43 mmol/L after 15 g alcohol/d but increased to 1.48 mmol/L after 30 g alcohol/d (P = 0.02). Apolipoprotein A-I increased significantly and apolipoprotein B decreased significantly after 30 g alcohol/d relative to the concentration after the control diet.


CONCLUSIONS
Consumption of 15-30 g alcohol/d by postmenopausal women apparently decreases cardiovascular disease risk by improving lipid profiles. Plasma LDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations improve after 15 g alcohol/d; plasma HDL cholesterol improves only after 30 g alcohol/d.
Baer
David J
DJ
US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA. baer@bhnrc.arsusda.gov
Judd
Joseph T
JT
Clevidence
Beverly A
BA
Muesing
Richard A
RA
Campbell
William S
WS
Brown
Ellen D
ED
Taylor
Philip R
PR
D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004032:Diet; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D000431:Ethanol