J Endocrinol Metab

Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, ISSN 1923-2861 print, 1923-287X online, Open Access

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, J Endocrinol Metab and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website http://www.jofem.org

Review

Volume 4, Number 3, June 2014, pages 47-50

Effects of Alcohol Consumption on HDL Metabolism in Asian Populations

**Table 1.** Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review of Effects of Alcohol Consumption on HDL Metabolism
Authors	Aim of study and study design	Subjects studied	Results/conclusions
CVD: cardiovascular disease; CI: confidence interval; HDL-C: high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol.
Brien et al [4]	To systematically review interventional studies of the effects of alcohol consumption on 21 biological markers associated with coronary risk factors in adults without known CVD.	Data sources: Medline (1950 to October 2009) and Embase (1980 to October 2009) without limits.	Alcohol significantly increased HDL-C (pooled mean difference 0.094 mmol/L, 95% CI 0.064 to 0.123). Alcohol showed a dose-response relation with HDL-C (P = 0.013).
Rimm et al [5]	Meta-analysis of all experimental studies that assessed the effects of moderate alcohol intake on coronary risk factors.	Sixty-one data records were abstracted from 42 eligible studies. Men and women free of chronic disease and who were not dependent on alcohol. Coronary risk factors were assessed before and after participants consumed up to 100 g of alcohol a day.	An experimental dose of 30 g of ethanol a day increased HDL-C by 3.99 mg/dL (95% CI 3.25 to 4.73).

Table 1. Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review of Effects of Alcohol Consumption on HDL Metabolism

Authors

Aim of study and study design

Subjects studied

Results/conclusions

CVD: cardiovascular disease; CI: confidence interval; HDL-C: high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol.

Brien et al [4]

To systematically review interventional studies of the effects of alcohol consumption on 21 biological markers associated with coronary risk factors in adults without known CVD.

Data sources: Medline (1950 to October 2009) and Embase (1980 to October 2009) without limits.

Alcohol significantly increased HDL-C (pooled mean difference 0.094 mmol/L, 95% CI 0.064 to 0.123). Alcohol showed a dose-response relation with HDL-C (P = 0.013).

Rimm et al [5]

Meta-analysis of all experimental studies that assessed the effects of moderate alcohol intake on coronary risk factors.

Sixty-one data records were abstracted from 42 eligible studies. Men and women free of chronic disease and who were not dependent on alcohol. Coronary risk factors were assessed before and after participants consumed up to 100 g of alcohol a day.

An experimental dose of 30 g of ethanol a day increased HDL-C by 3.99 mg/dL (95% CI 3.25 to 4.73).

**Table 2.** Clinical Trials to Study Effects of Alcohol Consumption on HDL-C, Performed in Asian Populations
Authors	Nationality of subjects	Subjects studied	Study design	Results/conclusions
HDL-C: high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol; LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol; TC: total cholesterol; TG: triglyceride.
Chung et al [6]	Taiwanese	The 1,466 aboriginal subjects, 40 - 95 years of age, are a stratified random subpopulation identified during an integrative health care program.	A cross-sectional community-based study. They were sampled for drinking patterns.	Subjects with alcohol consumption had significantly higher levels of serum HDL-C.
Minami et al [7]	Japanese	Thirty-three male subjects (37 ± 1 years) who habitually drank alcohol (646 mL of ethanlol/day).	Thirty-three male subjects (37 ± 1 years) who habitually drank alcohol (646 mL of ethanlol/day) were told either to keep their usual drinking habits for 3 weeks, or to reduce alcohol intake by at least up to a half of their usual drinking amount using a randomized crossover design.	Three-week alcohol restriction significantly serum HDL-C decreased (P < 0.05).
Ayaori et al [8]	Japanese	Two hundred thirty-six healthy males and in the withdrawal study, the subjects with a history of daily alcohol consumption (mean ± SD, 81.8 ±33.0 g/day; range, 40 - 150 g/day).	A population-based study and an alcohol withdrawal study.	Two hundred thirty-six healthy males showed no significant association between alcohol consumption and metabolic parameters. In the withdrawal study, the subjects with a history of daily alcohol consumption abstained from alcohol for 4 weeks. After withdrawal, HDL-C significantly decreased.
Kato et al [9]	Japanese	Two thousand one hundred three non-diabetic men and women aged 40 to 79 years from a general Japanese population.	A cross-sectional study to determine whether the beneficial effects of alcohol on serum lipids are mediated by insulin levels.	In both sexes, HDL-C significantly increased with elevated alcohol intake.
Yano et al [10]	Japanese in Hawaii	Approximately 1,360 elderly Japanese men, aged 60 - 81 years, in Hawaii, USA.	The relationships of plasma TC, HDL-C, LDL-C and TG to a variety of personal attributes were investigated cross-sectionally in a random sample.	HDL-C was positively related to alcohol consumption (P < 0.0001).

Table 2. Clinical Trials to Study Effects of Alcohol Consumption on HDL-C, Performed in Asian Populations

Authors

Nationality of subjects

Subjects studied

Study design

Results/conclusions

HDL-C: high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol; LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol; TC: total cholesterol; TG: triglyceride.

Chung et al [6]

Taiwanese

The 1,466 aboriginal subjects, 40 - 95 years of age, are a stratified random subpopulation identified during an integrative health care program.

A cross-sectional community-based study. They were sampled for drinking patterns.

Subjects with alcohol consumption had significantly higher levels of serum HDL-C.

Minami et al [7]

Japanese

Thirty-three male subjects (37 ± 1 years) who habitually drank alcohol (646 mL of ethanlol/day).

Thirty-three male subjects (37 ± 1 years) who habitually drank alcohol (646 mL of ethanlol/day) were told either to keep their usual drinking habits for 3 weeks, or to reduce alcohol intake by at least up to a half of their usual drinking amount using a randomized crossover design.

Three-week alcohol restriction significantly serum HDL-C decreased (P < 0.05).

Ayaori et al [8]

Japanese

Two hundred thirty-six healthy males and in the withdrawal study, the subjects with a history of daily alcohol consumption (mean ± SD, 81.8 ±33.0 g/day; range, 40 - 150 g/day).

A population-based study and an alcohol withdrawal study.

Two hundred thirty-six healthy males showed no significant association between alcohol consumption and metabolic parameters. In the withdrawal study, the subjects with a history of daily alcohol consumption abstained from alcohol for 4 weeks. After withdrawal, HDL-C significantly decreased.

Kato et al [9]

Japanese

Two thousand one hundred three non-diabetic men and women aged 40 to 79 years from a general Japanese population.

A cross-sectional study to determine whether the beneficial effects of alcohol on serum lipids are mediated by insulin levels.

In both sexes, HDL-C significantly increased with elevated alcohol intake.

Yano et al [10]

Japanese in Hawaii

Approximately 1,360 elderly Japanese men, aged 60 - 81 years, in Hawaii, USA.

The relationships of plasma TC, HDL-C, LDL-C and TG to a variety of personal attributes were investigated cross-sectionally in a random sample.

HDL-C was positively related to alcohol consumption (P < 0.0001).