Alcohol cessation linked with worsening of cholesterol levels
The cessation of alcohol consumption was associated with an increase in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and a decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in a dose-dependent manner, a single-center Japanese study found.
Monitoring patients' lipid profiles after they have changed their alcohol habits is essential for optimizing cholesterol management, since both cessation and initiation can affect levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, according to a cohort study in Japan.
To determine if changes in alcohol consumption are associated with changes in cholesterol levels in settings outside intense interventions, researchers assessed data from 57,691 individuals (328,676 visits) who had annual health checkups at a single center in Japan between October 2012 and October 2022. Any individual treated with lipid-lowering medications was excluded. Mean patient age was 46.8 years, and 53% were female. Findings were published by JAMA Network Open on March 12.
A total of 49,898 visits by 25,144 participants made up the cohort for evaluating alcohol cessation, which was defined as reporting cessation of alcohol intake between two consecutive visits. Cessation was linked with changes of 1.10 mg/dL (95% CI, 0.76 to 1.45 mg/dL) in LDL cholesterol level among those discontinuing habits of fewer than 1.5 drinks per day, 3.71 mg/dL (95% CI, 2.71 to 4.71 mg/dL) for 1.5 to three drinks per day, and 6.53 mg/dL (95% CI, 5.14 to 7.91 mg/dL) for three or more drinks per day. Cessation was also associated with a change in HDL cholesterol level of −1.25 mg/dL (95% CI, −1.41 to −1.09 mg/dL) among those discontinuing habits of fewer than 1.5 drinks per day, −3.35 mg/dL (−4.41 to −2.29 mg/dL) for 1.5 to three drinks per day, and −5.65 mg/dL (95% CI, −6.28 to −5.01 mg/dL) for three or more drinks per day. Inverse dose-response associations were seen in the cohort evaluating alcohol initiation (107,880 visits among 29,042 participants).
Limitations to the study include its reliance on self-reported alcohol intake and the possibility of residual confounders impacting results.
Overall, initiating an additional one alcoholic drink per day was associated with decreased LDL cholesterol levels and increased HDL cholesterol levels, whereas cessation of one alcohol drink was associated with increased LDL cholesterol levels and decreased HDL cholesterol levels.
“Our findings support the hypothesis that alcohol consumption may improve lipid profile and prevent specific diseases, such as atherosclerosis, even from a longer-term perspective,” the researchers wrote. However, alcohol has also been linked with increased triglycerides, high blood pressure, arrhythmia, and cardiomyopathy, underscoring the balance between maintaining healthy cholesterol profiles and other alcohol-associated risks, they concluded.