Patterns: Moderate Drinking May Ease Effects of ‘Bad’ Cholesterol

NY Times ^ | May 15, 2007 | ERIC NAGOURNEY

[neverdem]

Researchers have long known that people who drink moderate amounts of alcohol appear to be less likely to develop heart disease. Much of the benefit has been attributed to the higher levels of HDL cholesterol — often referred to as the “good” cholesterol — found in moderate drinkers. The lipoproteins in this kind of cholesterol are believed to help the body fight off heart disease.

But a new study suggests that alcohol may play another role in cholesterol and health. Moderate drinking may encourage the formation of larger lipoprotein particles in both HDL and LDL, the “bad” cholesterol associated with cardiovascular problems.

Larger particles in HDL, the researchers wrote in the online edition of The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, have recently been found to appear better at fighting off heart disease. And larger particles in LDL appear to be less effective at causing it. In that case, the higher the number of large LDL particles, and the lower the number of small ones, the better the chance of avoiding heart disease.

[neverdem]

The link in the article under "study" goes to the abstract. In the upper right of the abstract you'll find: "Author Manuscript (PDF) FREE"

Alcohol consumption has what are called 'J' or 'U' shaped mortalty curves. In other words, moderate drinkers live longer than teetotalers or heavy drinkers. If someone has problems with alcohol, don't do it.

[Cacique]

btt

[endthematrix]

You can’t beat the key ingredients in a Mediterranean diet: Olive oil and wine.

[buffyt]

We love good wine!

[omnivore]

Good news. Time for a nightcap.

But I'd rather see studies that relate moderate wine consumption to all-cause mortality, not just heart disease. There are other risk factors which alcohol consumption increases. I don't care what particular thing I die of (with a few excepctions that I have no control over anyway), I just want to live a long time. So the studies that relate a dietary thing to one disease category (like heart disease) I find not as useful as I'd like.

[neverdem]

But I'd rather see studies that relate moderate wine consumption to all-cause mortality, not just heart disease. There are other risk factors which alcohol consumption increases. I don't care what particular thing I die of (with a few excepctions that I have no control over anyway), I just want to live a long time. So the studies that relate a dietary thing to one disease category (like heart disease) I find not as useful as I'd like.

Cardiovascular disease and cerebrovascular disease, i.e. assorted types of stroke, are the first and third causes of mortality, respectively. You may want to enter wine and mortality or alcohol and mortality into PubMed. I'd start by limiting it to review articles.

[TomB]

But I'd rather see studies that relate moderate wine consumption to all-cause mortality, not just heart disease. There are other risk factors which alcohol consumption increases.

Which risk factors are you talking about?

[oldcomputerguy]

Linus Pauling defined heart disease years ago. He said that heart disease is caused by ingestion of too little vitamin C.

The body prefers to use collagen to repair arteries, but uses Lp(a)(not cholesterol per sec) in lieu of collagen when too little vitamin C is available to make collagen.

The only entities that do not produce their own Vitamin C are humans and Guinea pigs and they both can have heart disease.

On top of that, high Lp(a) levels have bee tied to death from all causes in a NEJM report.

Pauling also demonstrated in Guinea pigs that clogged arteries can be reversed by taking large amounts of vitamin C and an equal amount of Lysine to sop up excess Lp(a)

Do yourself a favor and take Vitamin C, Lysine. Also have your Lp(a) levels specifically checked. It should be under 30, better under 20.
Mine was unmeasurable, my wife's was 11.

[dakine]

You’ll never die...

[laotzu]

this is a test