Alcohol Use, Vascular Disease, and Lipid-Lowering Drugs

Abstract

Many epidemiological and clinical studies have shown that light-to-moderate alcohol (Alc) consumption is associated with reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and total mortality in middle-aged and elderly men and women. The plausible mechanisms for the putative cardioprotective effects include increased levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, prevention of clot formation, reduced platelet aggregation, promotion of blood clot dissolution, and lowering of plasma lipoprotein (a)

Cardiovascular and Overall Mortality Risk in Relation to Alcohol Consumption in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease

“…Insufficient research has been conducted until recently to determine whether the consumption of alcohol in combination with hypolipidemic therapy should be recommended and whether it is safe. 64 Thus, there is a need to define the possible benefit and establish which lipid-lowering drug behaves better in such a setting.…”

Lipoprotein (a) and Cardiovascular Risk

“…Lipid levels are modified by alcohol in different forms but it is not completely clear the way they are. In alcohol abuse patients, levels of Lp(a) have been reported to decrease and this has been related to the time of abstinence (86). In other study an increased level among table wine drinkers has been described (87).…”

Clinical Management Considerations for Dyslipidemia in HIV–Infected Individuals

“…Primary causes appear to be single-or multiple-gene mutations that result in either overproduction or defective clearance of TG and LDL-C, or an underproduction or excessive clearance of HDL-C. 17 Secondary causes contribute to many cases of dyslipidemia in adults and include diabetes mellitus (increased TG, increased very-low-density LDL-C, decreased HDL-C) 18 ; excess alcohol consumption (probably the most prevalent cause of hypertriglyceridemia; its effects are determined by total alcohol volume and pattern of intake) 19,20 ; and some medications, including atypical antipsychotic medications, such as quetiapine and olanzapine. 21 While hypothyroidism is a secondary cause of dyslipidemia, it can often go undiagnosed because patients may be asymptomatic.…”