HDL biology
Red wine, not alcohol alone, raises HDL cholesterol and cholesterol efflux capacity 7% in young men, without altering CETP (Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2000)
Original title: Beneficial effects of a moderate consumption of red wine on cellular cholesterol efflux in young men
In 56 healthy young men, three beverages were compared over 14 days each in random order: red wine (W, 30 g alcohol/day), an alcohol-matched solution (A), and alcohol-free red wine (AFW). W significantly increased serum HDL cholesterol, apoA-I, HDL3 cholesterol, LpA-I, and LpA-I:A-II particles. A increased only apoA-I, HDL3 cholesterol, and LpA-I:A-II, while also increasing triglycerides. AFW had no effect apart from decreasing HDL cholesterol. Plasma CETP was never altered by any beverage. Serum-promoted cellular cholesterol efflux, measured on 3H-labeled Fu5AH cells, increased only after W intake, by 7%, and efflux changes correlated positively with changes in HDL cholesterol, HDL3 cholesterol, and HDL phospholipid. The authors conclude that moderate red wine consumption has a modest, specific beneficial effect beyond that of alcohol alone.
Original abstract
Background And Aim: Protection against coronary artery disease (CAD) by moderate alcohol consumption is thought to be partly mediated through an increase in high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. The protective effect of HDL can be related to its role in reverse cholesterol transport. Some studies have shown that wine intake is associated with a lower CAD risk compared to other alcoholic beverages.
Methods And Results: In order to separate the possible beneficial effects of the alcoholic and the non-alcoholic components of red wine, three beverages were compared in a group of 56 healthy young men: red wine (W) (30 g alcohol/day), a solution with the same degree of alcohol (A) and alcohol-free red wine (AFW). Beverages were consumed in random order over a period of 14 days. W significantly increased serum HDL-C, Apo A-I, HDL3-C, LpA-I and LpA-I:A-II particles. With A, only ApoA-I, HDL3-C, LpA-I:A-II were increased, though triglycerides were also increased. AFW had no effect apart from decreasing HDL-C. Plasma CETP was never altered. Serum-promoted cellular cholesterol efflux was measured on 3H labelled Fu5AH cells. Fractional cholesterol efflux was increased only after W intake, by 7%. Efflux variations correlated positively with HDL-C, HDL3-C and HDL-phospholipid variations.
Conclusions: A modest, specific beneficial effect of moderate red wine consumption was demonstrated in comparison to an alcoholic solution. This was due to its effects on lipoproteins and its stimulation of serum ability to induce efflux of cellular cholesterol.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.