Moderate alcohol consumption in social drinkers raises plasma homocysteinelevels: A contradiction to the 'French paradox'?

Evidence from observational studies suggests that elevated levels of homocy steine are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. We assessed whether moderate alcohol intake in healthy social drinkers, sugge sted to be cardioprotective according to the 'French paradox', influences t he cardiovascular risk factor homocysteine. A total of 60 normal nourished subjects who had no evidence of Vascular disease or other risk factors for hyperhomocysteinaemia were assigned to receive mineral water or 30 g of alc ohol per day (as beer, red wine or spirits) for a period of 6 weeks. Homocy steine levels of social drinkers, independent of which beverage was consume d, increased during the observation. We postulate that elevated levels of h omocysteine in social drinkers with regular moderate alcohol intake are at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, which contradicts the suggested cardioprotection of alcohol according to the 'French paradox'.