Effects of alcohol ingestion on lipids and lipoproteins in normal men: isocaloric metabolic studies.

To investigate metabolic relationships between alcohol ingestion and fasting plasma high density lipoprotein cholesterol (C-HDL) and triglycerides, seven young normal males were assessed with isocaloric substitution of alcohol for carbohydrate in the diet. For a 5-week study period, an isocaloric low cholesterol diet containing 20% of the calories as protein, 40% as fat, and 40% as carbohydrate, with < 300 mg cholesterol per day, P/S 1.5/1, was ingested. In weeks 2 and 3, 35 and 53 g/day of 100 proof Vodka were ingested, with isocaloric substitution of alcohol for dietary carbohydrate during these study weeks. In week 5, 1.35 g/day of lecithin linoleate was added to assess another putative nutritional approach to increasing C-HDL levels. By two-way analysis of variance and Scheffe's paired t tests, there were no significant differences in either C-HDL or triglyceride levels for any of the five metabolic diet, alcohol substitution diet periods; additionally, there were no significant effects of lecithin on plasma lipids or lipoproteins. The general question asked, "Does alcohol affect C-HDL levels?" is answered negatively for isocaloric alcohol substitution, on a cholesterol-poor, high P/S, and relatively carbohydrate restricted diet, for a 2-week period of moderate alcohol intake. Alcohol's effect on C-HDL and triglyceride probably involves an interaction with total calories, and perhaps with dietary composition (cholesterol, saturated fat, carbohydrate content), as well as the amount of ethanol ingested, and duration of intake.