Alcohol consumption is associated with enrichment of high-density lipoprotein particles in polyunsaturated lipids and increased cholesterol esterification rate.
BACKGROUND
Alcohol consumption is associated with high levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDLs). Moreover, changes in the fatty acid patterns of red blood cell phospholipids and plasma lipids have been observed in drinkers. The objectives of this study were to characterize the composition of HDL particles with respect to lipid molecular species in regular wine drinkers and to assess the functional properties of those HDLs as regards key steps of reverse cholesterol transport.


METHODS
Forty-six subjects were recruited in the frame of a population study performed in Toulouse, southern France, and a nutritional investigation, including daily alcohol consumption, was performed. Subjects were sorted according to their daily alcohol intake (0, < or =35, and >35 g/day), mostly as red wine. The plasma HDL fraction was isolated, and neutral lipid molecular lipids and phospholipid fatty acids were analyzed by gas liquid chromatography. Efflux of cellular cholesterol and rates of cholesterol esterification and cholesteryl ester transfers between lipoproteins were assayed in a cell-plasma incubation system.


RESULTS
Wine drinking, at 47 g/day, was associated with an increase in HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I, but not with triglycerides. Isolated HDL displayed a 27% increase in all cholesteryl ester molecular species. The particles were also enriched in unsaturated phospholipids and, particularly, in those containing arachidonic (+30%) and eicosapentaenoic (+90%) acids. The plasma cholesterol esterification rate, reflecting lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase activity on HDL, was found to be higher (+27%) in drinkers than in nondrinkers, whereas the rate of cellular cholesterol efflux to plasma was identical.


CONCLUSIONS
Regular wine consumption is associated with high levels of polyunsaturated lipids in HDL and with increases in the cholesterol esterification rate.
Department of Lipoproteins and Lipid Mediators, INSERM U 563, Bâtiment C, Hôpital Purpan, 31052 Toulouse-Cédex, France. perret@purpan.inserm.fr
Bertrand
B
Perret
Jean-Bernard
JB
Ruidavets
Claude
C
Vieu
Béatrice
B
Jaspard
Jean-Pierre
JP
Cambou
François
F
Terce
Xavier
X
Collet
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D004951:Esterification / Q000187:drug effects; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051381:Rats; D013695:Temperance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014920:Wine
D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D008055:Lipids; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL