In an observational study, alcohol consumption modestly improved lipid profiles in a dose-dependent manner.

Although alcohol consumption is often associated with negative health consequences, its lipid-improving effect is well established – however, the magnitude of this effect is unclear. In this observational cohort study from Japan, lipid profiles and longitudinal self-reported changes in alcohol consumption were collected from about 58,000 patients during annual check-up visits from 2012 to 2022.

Key findings were as follows:

• among participants who reported no habitual alcohol intake at their first visits, those who initiated ­alcohol intake by subsequent visits ­demonstrated a dose-dependent mean decrease in LDL cholesterol and a mean increase in HDL cholesterol (–0.04 and +0.03 mmol/L per drink/day, respectively) ­compared with participants who remained abstinent
• among participants who reported alcohol intake at their first visits, those who ceased alcohol intake demonstrated a mean dose-dependent increase in LDL cholesterol and a mean decrease in HDL cholesterol (+0.04 and –0.03 mmol/L per drink/day, respectively), compared with participants who continued to ­consume alcohol
• the effect on LDL cholesterol of both initiation and cessation was more prominent in women and in those with lower body mass index.

Comment: The improvement of lipid profiles with alcohol intake is modest and not a reason to recommend alcohol use to patients, but I routinely ask about recent changes in alcohol intake (among other lifestyle changes) if I observe unexpected changes in my patients’ lipid profiles.

Nolan J. Mischel, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Texas Christian University, Burnett School of Medicine; Core Family Medicine Faculty, John Peter Smith Hospital, Fort Worth, USA.

Suzuki T, et al. Lipid profiles after changes in alcohol consumption among adults undergoing annual checkups. JAMA Netw Open 2025; 8: e250583.

This summary is taken from the following Journal Watch titles: General Medicine, Ambulatory Medicine, Hospital Medicine.