A recent study published in JAMA Network Open reveals that initiating alcohol consumption may improve cholesterol levels.
Researchers from Harvard University conducted a study involving nearly 58,000 adults in Japan, tracking their health records over a year.
The study observed that individuals who began drinking alcohol experienced a decrease in low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol, and an increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good" cholesterol.
Notably, the rise in HDL levels surpassed improvements typically seen with medications. Conversely, participants who ceased drinking saw their LDL levels rise and HDL levels decline. The extent of these cholesterol changes corresponded with the amount of alcohol consumed.
The study found that initiating an ethanol intake of 15 to 30 g/d was associated with increased HDL-C levels by 2.49 mg/dL, while a 30 g/d increase or more was associated with increased HDL-C levels by 6.12 mg/dL.
"... 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.
The study highlights the "delicate balance" between maintaining healthy cholesterol profiles and other alcohol-associated risks.
"Considering current international efforts to regulate moderate alcohol intake to mitigate overall health risks, this study emphasizes the importance of carefully monitoring cholesterol levels after alcohol cessation to optimize lipid profile management at both the individual and population levels," it said.
Health Risks of Alcohol Consumption
Despite these findings, health authorities emphasise the numerous risks associated with alcohol consumption.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that harmful alcohol use results in approximately 3 million deaths annually, accounting for 5.3 per cent of all global deaths.
In the United States, alcohol-related deaths have nearly doubled from 1999 to 2020, with nearly 50,000 deaths among adults aged 25 to 85 in 2020 alone.
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