BENEFICIAL-EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL-WITHDRAWAL ON LDL PARTICLE-SIZE DISTRIBUTION AND OXIDATIVE SUSCEPTIBILITY IN SUBJECTS WITH ALCOHOL-INDUCED HYPERTRIGLYCERIDEMIA

LDL subclass pattern B, reported to have a higher prevalence in hypert riglyceridemics (HTGs), is considered to be associated with an increas ed risk for coronary artery disease, and the small dense LDL character istic of this pattern is susceptible to oxidative modification. Alcoho l is considered one of the most frequent causes of increases in plasma triglyceride (TG) levels. We investigated the effects of alcohol with drawal on LDL subclass distribution and oxidizability in drinkers with different plasma TG levels. Thirty-seven male subjects with relativel y heavy alcohol-consumption habits were divided into four groups; norm otriglyceridemic (NTG)/withdrawal (n = 11), NTG/control (n = 8), hyper triglyceridemic (HTG)/withdrawal (n = 10), and HTG/control (n = 8). Bo th withdrawal groups abstained form alcohol for 4 weeks, while the con trol subjects maintained their usual intake of alcohol. Peak LDL parti cle diameter (PPD) was smaller in the combined HTG groups than in the combined NTG groups before abstinence, although PPD increased signific antly (P < .01) from 25.5 to 26.1 nm in the HTG/withdrawal group. Befo re abstinence, lag times preceding LDL oxidation in the combined HTG g roups were shorter than in the combined NTG groups; after withdrawal, lag time was prolonged significantly (P < .01) from 49.9 to 57.3 minut es in the HTG-withdrawal group. No significant changes in PPD and lag time were observed in the other three groups. Significant correlations (P < .05) were observed between the change (Delta) in lag time and De lta TG and between Delta lag time and Delta PPD. We conclude that in a lcohol-induced HTG subjects, alcohol withdrawal has beneficial effects on the LDL profile by shifting the particle size from smaller to larg er and decreasing its susceptibilty to oxidation.