[Effect of various levels of alcohol consumption on plasma lipoproteins and apoproteins].

To assess the abnormalities induced by alcohol on plasma lipids and lipoproteins and their possibly involved mechanisms three basis of the daily intake: social drinkers (less than or equal to 20 g/day; n = 10), moderate drinkers (greater than 20 to less than 70 g/day; n = 11), and severe drinkers (greater than or equal to 70 g/day; n = 15). Eleven nondrinkers were evaluated as control group. Very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL), high density lipoproteins (HDL)-2 and HDL-3 were isolated by preparative sequential isopicnic centrifugation, and their apolipoprotein and lipidic composition were measured. In the group of severe drinkers, a marked tendency of HDL-3 cholesterol to be higher than in the remaining groups was found. There was no correlation between this parameter and hepatic enzymes. The HDL-2 cholesterol of severe drinkers was significantly increased (p less than 0.005). The parallel enrichment in apolipoproteins C of the HDL-2 particle in all groups of alcohol users suggests a transfer phenomenon from VLDL. The apoA/C ratio of HDL-2 might be useful as a marker of alcohol intake.