Relationships between alcohol intake and cardiovascular risk factors in middle-aged men with hypo-HDL cholesterolemia

Background: Light-to-moderate alcohol drinking reduces the risk of ischemic heart disease, and this effect of alcohol is mainly explained by alcohol-induced elevation of HDL cholesterol. Hypo-HDL cholesterolemia is a potent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to clarify how alcohol relates to cardiovascular risk factors in men with hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia. Methods: The subjects were middle-aged men with hypo-HDL cholesterolemia (< 40 mg/dl), and they were divided into four groups by daily alcohol consumption (non-; light, < 22 g ethanol/day; moderate, >= 22 g ethanol and < 44 g ethanol/day; heavy drinkers, >= 44 g ethanol/day). Each risk factor was compared among the groups after adjustment for age and histories of smoking and regular exercise. Results: Systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels, log-transformed lipid accumulation product and log-transformed cardio-metabolic index were significantly higher in moderate and heavy drinkers than in non-drinkers. Log-transformed triglycerides and triglycerides-to-HDL cholesterol ratio were significantly higher in light, moderate and heavy drinkers than in nondrinkers and tended to be higher with an increase of alcohol intake. LDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol-to-HDL cholesterol ratio were significantly lower in light, moderate and heavy drinkers than in nondrinkers and tended to be lower with an increase of alcohol intake. The above trends for the relationships of alcohol drinking with the cardiovascular risk factors were also found in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Conclusions: In men with hypo-HDL cholesterolemia, alcohol drinking shows positive associations with blood pressure and triglycerides and an inverse association with LDL cholesterol.