Beneficial effects of a moderate consumption of red wine on cellular cholesterol efflux in young men

Background and Aim: Protection against coronary artery disease (CAD) by mod erate alcohol consumption is thought to be partly mediated through an incre ase in high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. The protective effect of HDL can be related to its role in reverse cholesterol transport. Some studies h ave shown that wine intake is associated with a lower CAD risk compared to other alcoholic beverages. Methods and Results: In order to separate the possible beneficial effects o f the alcoholic and the non-alcoholic components of red wine, three beverag es were compared in a group of 56 healthy young men: red wine (W) (30g alco hol/day), a solution with the same degree of alcohol (A) and alcohol-free r ed wine (AFW). Beverages were consumed in random order over a period of 14 days. W significantly increased serum HDL-C, Apo A-I, HDL3-C, LpA-I and LpA -I:A-II particles. With A, only ApoA-I, HDL3-C, LpA-I:A-II were increased, though triglycerides were also increased. AFW had no effect apart from decr easing HDL-C. Plasma CETP was never altered. Serum-promoted cellular choles terol efflux was measured on 3H labelled Fu5AH cells. Fractional cholestero l efflux was increased only after W intake, by 7%. Efflux variations correl ated positively with HDL-C, HDL3-C and HDL-phospholipid variations. Conclusions: a modest, specific beneficial effect of moderate red wine cons umption was demonstrated in comparison to an alcoholic solution. This was d ue to its effects on lipoproteins and its stimulation of serum ability to i nduce efflux of cellular cholesterol. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis (2000) 10:6 3-69 (C)2000, Medikal Press.