Daily moderate alcohol consumption increases serum paraoxonase activity; adiet-controlled, randomised intervention study in middle aged men

Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease. Part of this inverse association may be explained by its eff ects on HDL. Paraoxonase, an HDL-associated enzyme, has been suggested to p rotect against LDL oxidation. We examined the effects of moderate consumpti on of red wine, beer and spirits in comparison with mineral water on paraox onase activity in serum. In this diet-controlled, randomised, cross-over st udy 11 healthy middle-aged men consumed each of the beverages with evening dinner for 3 weeks. At the end of each 3 week period, blood samples were co llected pre- and postprandially and after an overnight fast. Fasting paraox onase activity was higher after intake of wine (P < 0.001), beer (P < 0.001 ), and spirits (P < 0.001) than after water consumption (149.4 +/- 111.1, 1 52.6 +/- 113.1, 152.8 +/- 116.5 and 143.1 +/- 107.9 U/l serum), but did not differ significantly between the 3 alcoholic beverages. Similar effects we re observed pre- and postprandially. The increases in paraoxonase activity were strongly correlated with coincident increases in concentrations of HDL -C and apo A-I (r = 0.60, P < 0.05 and r = 0.70, P < 0.05). These data sugg est that increased serum paraoxonase may be one of the biological mechanism s underlying the reduced coronary heart disease risk in moderate alcohol co nsumers (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.