Alcohol and high-density lipoproteins.

High-density lipoproteins (HDL) have been shown to be negatively associated with coronary heart disease; some epidemiologic evidence also suggests that alcohol may protect against coronary heart disease, but other evidence shows the opposite. Alcohol ingestion and even alcoholism may be associated with higher serum HDL levels, but the levels tend to return to normal within 2 weeks with abstinence from alcohol. The relation between HDL and alcoholism, however, is complex, since in addition to alcohol itself several other factors have to be considered. Liver disease and cigarette smoking tend to decrease the serum HDL level in alcoholic persons, while certain hormonal and nutritional influences and the concomitant use of other microsomal-enzyme-inducing drugs may lead to increased HDL levels. On balance, while alcohol per se may increase the serum HDL level, alcoholism--particularly alcoholic liver disease--probably negates the HDL-related protection against coronary heart disease.