HDL biology
Alcoholics have 28 percent lower CETP activity than controls, explaining their elevated HDL cholesterol (Eur J Clin Invest 1990)
Original title: Increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration in alcoholics is related to low cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity
To test whether defective cholesteryl ester transfer explains the high HDL and low LDL cholesterol seen in alcoholics, CETP activity was compared in 30 alcoholics without severe liver damage and 16 controls. Plasma CETP activity was 28% lower in alcoholics than controls (P less than 0.001), with teetotal controls showing slightly higher activity than moderate drinkers among the controls. CETP activity rose slowly after ethanol withdrawal but had not reached control levels within the 7-day observation period. Plasma CETP activity correlated positively with the LDL cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio (r=0.480, P less than 0.002) and negatively with HDL cholesterol level (r=-0.467, P less than 0.001). The authors conclude that defective cholesteryl ester transfer from HDL to LDL contributes to the elevated HDL cholesterol levels seen in alcoholics.
Original abstract
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) facilitates the transfer of cholesteryl esters from HDL to apoB-containing lipoproteins. Since alcoholics have high HDL cholesterol and low LDL cholesterol levels, a defect in cholesteryl ester transfer could be responsible for the alcohol-induced alteration in cholesterol distribution between lipoproteins. To test this hypothesis, we compared CETP activity in plasma from 30 alcoholics without severe liver damage and 16 control subjects. Plasma CETP activity was 28% lower in the alcoholics compared with the controls (P less than 0.001), while the teetotallers among the latter had slightly higher CETP activity than those who consumed alcohol in moderation. CETP activity increased slowly after ethanol withdrawal, but did not reach the control level within the 7-day observation period. A positive correlation was observed between plasma CETP activity and the LDL cholesterol HDL cholesterol ratio (r = 0.480, P less than 0.002), whereas CETP activity showed a negative correlation with HDL cholesterol level (r = -0.467, P less than 0.001). The results indicate that defective transfer of cholesteryl esters from HDL to LDL contributes to the high HDL cholesterol levels in alcoholics.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.