title: The correlation between alcohol consumption, lipids, apolipoproteins and coronary heart disease.
abstract: Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease. Whether alcohol is truly protective or whether the amount, type, or pattern of intake is the most important is still under debate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between effect of presence, rhythm, frequency of alcohol consumption on lipid and apo-lipoproteic profile, and indirectly of cardiovascular risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a cross-sectional transversal study on 105 patients free of coronary heart disease (men and women) aged 58.08 (10.43) years. Alcohol and dietary intakes were assessed by using validated questionnaires. The dosages of lipids were measured by the enzymatic method and the dosages of apolipoproteins were measured by immuno-turbidometric methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Presence of chronic alcohol consumption independently correlated with HDL-Cholesterol (p < 0.5) and apoA-I levels (p < 0.05). Ethylic dose positively associated with HDL-C (r = 0.71, p = 0.003) and apoA-I levels (r = 0.65, p = 0.002). Mean HDL-C levels significantly increase from the <1 drink/day group (46.58 +/- 35.12) to >7 drinks/day group (55.54 +/- 49.12) (p < 0.05). apoA-I also had a higher mean level for the >7 drinks/day group (1.78 +/- 1.21) than the 1-6 drinks/day group (1.58 +/- 0.05) and than the <1 drink/day group (1.53 +/- 0.09). Differences were found to be significant (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alcohol consumption interferes with lipids and lipoproteins balance and is one of the parameters that indirectly decrease the cardiovascular risk. A higher ethylic quantity and rhythm of consumption correlates with a higher protection offered by HDL-Cholesterol and apo A-I.
authors.affiliation: Department of Normal Morphology and Functions, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Teodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mocan
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Agoşton-Coldea
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Rusu
authors.forename: Raluca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pais
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gatfosse
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Mocan
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Rusu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins