Alcohol can raise levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL). This heart-healthy form of cholesterol scoops up extra fat in blood and transports it to the liver for storage and disposal. An HDL level of at least 50 mg per deciliter is optimal for women and no less than 40 mg per deciliter is needed for men, according to the guidelines published by the National Institutes of Health.
The Effect of Alcohol on HDL-Cholesterol
Alcohol raises HDL-cholesterol by reversing the transport process, sending the stored HDL out of the liver and back into the blood. For example, in a study performed in the Netherlands, a 5 percent increase was noted when a single serving of beer or wine, averaging 24 g of alcohol, was consumed daily for three weeks. These results were published in the April 2004 issue of "Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research," confirming earlier studies in the United States and England. The American Heart Association accepts the benefit of moderate alcohol use on HDL levels, but also notes that alcohol is associated with many health concerns. They recommend that people who choose to drink, limit their daily consumption to 1 to 2 servings and that no one feel pressured to drink by a need to raise his HDL.
Choice of Alcohol
A study published in December 1999 in the "British Medical Journal" determined that drinking 30 g, or 1 oz., of alcohol daily causes the HDL cholesterol to rise by almost 4 mg per deciliter. Since that time, there have been many studies done to determine if one form of alcohol is superior to the others in this regard, but as of 2011, it appears that alcohol has the same ability in any form.
Frequency of Alcohol Consumption and HDL in Men
It may be the frequency of drinking rather than the type or quantity that matters in raising HDL cholesterol. The results of a large, multi-center study published in January 2003 in the "New England Journal of Medicine" noted that men who drank a small amount of alcohol, 5 to 7 days each week, had a significantly lower risk of myocardial infarction, or heart attack. It's possible that this is from the effect of alcohol on HDL cholesterol. But if you are a man who drinks moderately every day, rather than either abstaining or binge-drinking, it's also likely that you are moderate in the way you eat and that you know how to manage stress effectively. It's difficult to determine which is true.
When Alcohol Should be Avoided
Women who are sexually active and not using effective contraception, as well as those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, should avoid alcohol in any form. Fetuses and nursing infants have varying tolerances to alcohol, making complete abstinence the only safe recommendation. If you take medications with sedating effects, you should avoid alcohol completely as should people who take antidepressants, anti-anxiety agents and anti-psychotic medications. Many other medications also contraindicate alcohol, so it is always advisable to consult a health care professional whenever a new prescription is received. Additionally, for some people, alcohol acts as an addictive substance and if this is the case, raising HDL-cholesterol is not sufficient reason to drink.
References
- National Institutes of Health:High Blood Cholesterol
- "Atherosclerosis"; Alcohol dehydrogenase type 1C (ADH1C) variants, alcohol consumption traits, HDL-cholesterol and risk of coronary heart disease in women and men: British Women's Heart and Health Study and Caerphilly Cohorts;Shah Ebrahim et al; February 2008
- American Heart Association; Alcohol, Wine and Cardiovascular Disease
- "New England Journal of Medicine",Kenneth J. Mukamal, M.D., M.P.H. et al; January 2003
- Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research; Effect of moderate alcohol consumption on parameters of reverse cholesterol transport in postmenopausal women; A.Sierksma, Ph.D. et al; April 28, 2004
- "British Medical Journal"; Moderate alcohol intake and lower risk of coronary heart disease: meta-analysis of effects on lipids and haemostatic factors; Eric Rimm, M.D. et al; December 1999
