Ichiro Wakabayashi1. 1. Department of Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 663-8501, Japan. wakabaya@hyo-med.ac.jp
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Triglycerides-to-high-density-lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol ratio (TG/HDL-C ratio) has been proposed to be a useful predictor of cardiovascular disease. Habitual alcohol drinking causes elevation of triglycerides and HDL cholesterol levels. The purpose of this study was to determine how the TG/HDL-C ratio is influenced by alcohol intake. METHOD: Subjects were 21,572 Japanese men (age range: 35-60 years) who were divided into non-, light (<22 g ethanol/day), heavy (≥22 but <44 g ethanol/day), and very heavy (≥44 g ethanol/day) drinkers. The relationship between alcohol intake and TG/HDL-C ratio was investigated by using analysis of covariance and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Log-transformed TG/HDL-C ratio was significantly lower in light, heavy, and very heavy drinkers than in nondrinkers and was lowest in light drinkers. Odds ratios for high TG/HDL-C ratios in light and heavy drinkers versus nondrinkers were significantly lower than a reference level of 1.00 (light drinkers: 0.63, 95% CI [0.57, 0.71],p < .01); heavy drinkers: 0.75, 95% CI [0.69, 0.81],p < .01]). Odds ratios for high waist-to-height ratio of subjects with versus subjects without high TG/HDL-C ratios were significantly higher than the reference level in non-, light, heavy, and very heavy drinkers and were significantly lower in heavy and very heavy drinkers than in nondrinkers (nondrinkers: 3.84 [3.42,4.31]; light drinkers: 3.65 [2.97,4.48]; heavy drinkers: 3.17 [2.84, 3.54],p < .05 compared with nondrinkers; very heavy drinkers: 2.61 [2.29, 2.97],p < .01 compared with nondrinkers). CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol drinking is inversely associated with TG/ HDL-C ratio and confounds the relationship between TG/HDL-C ratio and obesity.
OBJECTIVE:Triglycerides-to-high-density-lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol ratio (TG/HDL-C ratio) has been proposed to be a useful predictor of cardiovascular disease. Habitual alcohol drinking causes elevation of triglycerides and HDL cholesterol levels. The purpose of this study was to determine how the TG/HDL-C ratio is influenced by alcohol intake. METHOD: Subjects were 21,572 Japanese men (age range: 35-60 years) who were divided into non-, light (<22 g ethanol/day), heavy (≥22 but <44 g ethanol/day), and very heavy (≥44 g ethanol/day) drinkers. The relationship between alcohol intake and TG/HDL-C ratio was investigated by using analysis of covariance and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Log-transformed TG/HDL-C ratio was significantly lower in light, heavy, and very heavy drinkers than in nondrinkers and was lowest in light drinkers. Odds ratios for high TG/HDL-C ratios in light and heavy drinkers versus nondrinkers were significantly lower than a reference level of 1.00 (light drinkers: 0.63, 95% CI [0.57, 0.71],p < .01); heavy drinkers: 0.75, 95% CI [0.69, 0.81],p < .01]). Odds ratios for high waist-to-height ratio of subjects with versus subjects without high TG/HDL-C ratios were significantly higher than the reference level in non-, light, heavy, and very heavy drinkers and were significantly lower in heavy and very heavy drinkers than in nondrinkers (nondrinkers: 3.84 [3.42,4.31]; light drinkers: 3.65 [2.97,4.48]; heavy drinkers: 3.17 [2.84, 3.54],p < .05 compared with nondrinkers; very heavy drinkers: 2.61 [2.29, 2.97],p < .01 compared with nondrinkers). CONCLUSIONS:Alcohol drinking is inversely associated with TG/ HDL-C ratio and confounds the relationship between TG/HDL-C ratio and obesity.