Alcohol-induced hyperlipidemia and beta lipoproteins.

Alcohol addicts with a primary type IV hyperlipoproteinemia show a striking elevation of triglycerides in the serum during long periods of alcohol consumption as compared with controls, without an accompanying significant increase in free fatty acids in the serum. These data suggest that this genetically related lipid abnormality may be a significant factor in the pathogenesis of alcohol hyperlipemia and the alcohol-induced fatty liver.