Relation between consumption of alcohol and fatty acids esterifying serum cholesterol in healthy men

Lipidome changes in alcohol-related brain damage

Alcohol-related brain injury is characterized by cognitive deficits and brain atrophy with the prefrontal cortex particularly susceptible. White matter in the human brain is lipid rich and a major target of damage from chronic alcohol abuse; yet, there is sparse information on how these lipids are affected. Here, we used untargeted lipidomics as a discovery tool to describe these changes in the prefrontal, middle temporal, and visual cortices of human subjects with alcohol use disorder and controls. Significant changes to the lipidome, predominantly in the prefrontal and visual cortices, and differences between the white and grey matter of each brain region were identified. These effects include broad decreases to phospholipids and ceramide, decreased polyunsaturated fatty acids, decreased sphingadiene backbones, and selective decreases in cholesteryl ester fatty acid chains. Our findings show that chronic alcohol abuse results in selective changes to the neurolipidome, which likely reflects both the directs effects on the brain and concurrent effects on the liver.

Associations of linoleic acid with markers of glucose metabolism and liver function in South African adults

Background

The relation between dietary and circulating linoleic acid (18:2 n-6, LA), glucose metabolism and liver function is not yet clear. Associations of dietary and circulating LA with glucose metabolism and liver function markers were investigated.

Methods

Cross-sectional analyses in 633 black South Africans (aged > 30 years, 62% female, 51% urban) without type 2 diabetes at baseline of the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology study. A cultural-sensitive 145-item food-frequency questionnaire was used to collect dietary data, including LA (percentage of energy; en%). Blood samples were collected to measure circulating LA (% total fatty acids (FA); plasma phospholipids), plasma glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alanine (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Associations per 1 standard deviation (SD) and in tertiles were analyzed using multivariable regression.

Results

Mean (±SD) dietary and circulating LA was 6.8 (±3.1) en% and 16.0 (±3.5) % total FA, respectively. Dietary and circulating LA were not associated with plasma glucose or HbA1c (β per 1 SD: − 0.005 to 0.010, P > 0.20). Higher dietary LA was generally associated with lower serum liver enzymes levels. One SD higher circulating LA was associated with 22% lower serum GGT (β (95% confidence interval): − 0.25 (− 0.31, − 0.18), P < 0.001), but only ≤9% lower for ALT and AST. Circulating LA and serum GGT associations differed by alcohol use and locality.

Conclusion

Dietary and circulating LA were inversely associated with markers of impaired liver function, but not with glucose metabolism. Alcohol use may play a role in the association between LA and liver function.

Trial registration

PURE North-West Province South Africa study described in this manuscript is part of the PURE study. The PURE study is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT03225586; URL).

Circulating fatty acids in relation to alcohol consumption: Cross-sectional results from a cohort of 60-year-old men and women

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Alcohol consumption is considered to affect circulating fatty acids (FAs) but knowledge about specific associations is limited. We aimed to assess the relation between alcohol consumption and serum FAs in 60-year-old Swedish men and women.

METHODS

In a random sample of 1917 men and 2058 women residing in Stockholm county, cross-sectional associations between different categories of alcohol consumption and FAs were assessed using linear regression; β₁ coefficients with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. Self-reported alcohol consumption was categorized as none, low (≤9.9 g/day) (reference), moderate (10-29.9 g/day) and high (≥30 g/day). Moderate alcohol consumption was further subdivided into consumption of beer, wine, liquor and their combinations. Thirteen serum cholesterol ester FAs were measured by gas chromatography and individual FAs were expressed as percentage of total FAs.

RESULTS

Increasing alcohol consumption was associated to linear increase of saturated myristic acid, monounsaturated FAs and n-6 polyunsaturated (PUFA) arachidonic acid, whereas linear decrease was noted for saturated pentadecanoic acid and for n-6 PUFA linoleic acid. With non-linear associations, increasing alcohol consumption also associated to decreased saturated stearic acid, n-6 PUFA dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid, and n-3 PUFA docosahexaenoic acid and increased saturated palmitic acid, n-6 PUFA gamma-linolenic acid and n-3 PUFA eicosapentaenoic acid. Among types of beverages, wine consumption was associated with n-6 PUFA arachidonic acid (β₁ 0.59; 95% CI: 0.30;0.88) and the n-3 PUFAs eicosapentaenoic acid (β₁ 0.54; 95% CI: 0.30;0.78), and docosahexaenoic acid (β₁ 0.06; 95% CI: 0.00;0.12).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings may give important basis for further investigations to better understand biological mechanisms behind the dose-dependent associations between alcohol consumption and health outcomes observed in many previous studies.

Abnormalities in the serum phospholipids fatty acid profile in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis - a pilot study

The fatty acid composition of serum phospholipids were analyzed in 20 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (11 with malnutrition and 9 with acceptable nutritional status); 25 healthy age and sex-matched adults were used as controls. Cirrhotic patients showed higher levels of palmitic acid and total saturated fatty acids than healthy subjects. Total n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and levels of linoleic, dihomo-gama linolenic, arachidonic, and docosahexaenoic acid were significantly lower (p<0.001) in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis compared to healthy controls. Significant changes were also found between patients stratified according to nutritional status. In particular, the sum of n-3 PUFA was significantly lower (p<0.001) and ratio of n-6/n-3 fatty acids was higher (p<0.01) in malnourished patients when compared to the patients with acceptable nutritional status. Furthermore, important changes in the levels of saturated fatty acids, palmitoleic and oleic acid and long-chain PUFA were found in well-nourished patients with alcoholic cirrhosis as well. Our present data confirmed evidence that malnutrition is one of the factors that led to lower levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. PUFA supplementation in the latter needs further investigation.

trans-Palmitoleic acid, other dairy fat biomarkers, and incident diabetes: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

BACKGROUND

Dairy consumption is linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, but constituents responsible for this relation are not established. Emerging evidence suggests that trans-palmitoleate (trans 16:1n-7), a fatty acid in dairy and also partially hydrogenated oils, may be associated with a more favorable metabolic profile and less incident diabetes.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the association of trans-palmitoleate with metabolic risk and incident diabetes in a multiethnic US cohort.

DESIGN

Phospholipid fatty acids and metabolic risk factors were measured in 2000-2002 among 2617 adults in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a cohort of white, black, Hispanic, and Chinese Americans. In 2281 participants free of baseline diabetes, we also prospectively assessed the risk of new-onset diabetes (205 cases) from baseline to 2005-2007.

RESULTS

trans-Palmitoleate concentrations correlated positively with self-reported consumption of whole-fat dairy, butter, margarine, and baked desserts and with other circulating biomarkers of both dairy fat and partially hydrogenated oil consumption, which suggested mixed dietary sources. After multivariable adjustment, trans-palmitoleate concentrations were associated with higher LDL cholesterol (quintile 5 compared with quintile 1: +6.4%; P-trend = 0.005), lower triglycerides (-19.1%; P-trend < 0.001), lower fasting insulin (-9.1%; P-trend = 0.002), and lower systolic blood pressure (-2.4 mm Hg; P-trend = 0.01). In prospective analyses, trans-palmitoleate was independently associated with lower incident diabetes (P-trend = 0.02), including a 48% lower risk in quintile 5 compared with quintile 1 (HR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.32, 0.85). All findings were similar between men and women and between different race-ethnic subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

Circulating trans-palmitoleate is associated with higher LDL cholesterol but also with lower triglycerides, fasting insulin, blood pressure, and incident diabetes in a multiethnic US cohort. Our findings support the need for further experimental and dietary intervention studies that target circulating trans-palmitoleate. The MESA trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00005487.

Plasma stearoyl-CoA desaturase indices: association with lifestyle, diet, and body composition

OBJECTIVE

Stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase-1 (SCD1) is a key enzyme in fatty acid and energy metabolism. Increased hepatic SCD1 activity is associated with obesity and obesity-related diseases. We examined the relations of two plasma SCD activity indices (16:1n-7/16:0, 18:1n-9/18:0) with body composition, and the association of lifestyle and dietary variables with the plasma SCD indices.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This population-based, cross-sectional study of 2021 elderly (71-74 y) men and women from the Hordaland Health Study in Western Norway was conducted using a validated food frequency questionnaire, body composition measurements by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and determination of the plasma fatty acid profile.

RESULTS

In multivariate regression analyses, plasma SCD indices were positively associated with BMI and body fat (P < 0.001 for both). From the 2.5th to 97.5th percentiles of plasma SCD-16 and SCD-18 indices, fat mass differed by about 8 kg and 5 kg, respectively. Intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids were negatively associated with SCD-16 (partial r = -0.30) and SCD-18 (partial r = -0.24) (P < 0.001 for both). Alcohol intake was positively associated with SCD-16 (partial r = 0.26) and SCD-18 (partial r = 0.16) (P < 0.001 for both), whereas coffee consumption and physical activity were inversely associated with SCD-16 (P = 0.026 and P = 0.006, respectively) and SCD-18 (P = 0.001 and P = 0.022, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

In this elderly population, plasma markers of SCD1 activity are associated with increased adiposity. Furthermore, modifiable dietary habits and lifestyle are associated with plasma SCD indices. These results suggest that SCD1 activity may be a promising target for weight control.

Circulating palmitoleic acid and risk of metabolic abnormalities and new-onset diabetes

BACKGROUND

Animal experiments suggest that circulating palmitoleic acid (cis-16:1n-7) from adipocyte de novo fatty acid synthesis may directly regulate insulin resistance and metabolic dysregulation.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the independent determinants of circulating palmitoleate in free-living humans and whether palmitoleate is related to lower metabolic risk and the incidence of diabetes.

DESIGN

In a prospective cohort of 3630 US men and women in the Cardiovascular Health Study, plasma phospholipid fatty acids, anthropometric variables, blood lipids, inflammatory markers, and glucose and insulin concentrations were measured between 1992 and 2006 by using standardized methods. Independent determinants of plasma phospholipid palmitoleate and relations of palmitoleate with metabolic risk factors were investigated by using multivariable-adjusted linear regression. Relations with incident diabetes (296 incident cases) were investigated by using Cox proportional hazards.

RESULTS

The mean (± SD) palmitoleate value was 0.49 ± 0.20% (range: 0.11-2.55%) of total fatty acids. Greater body mass index, carbohydrate intake, protein intake, and alcohol use were each independent lifestyle correlates of higher palmitoleate concentrations. In multivariable analyses that adjusted for these factors and other potential confounders, higher palmitoleate concentrations were independently associated with lower LDL cholesterol (P < 0.001), higher HDL cholesterol (P < 0.001), lower total:HDL-cholesterol ratio (P = 0.04), and lower fibrinogen (P < 0.001). However, palmitoleate was also associated with higher triglycerides (P < 0.001) and (in men only) with greater insulin resistance (P < 0.001). Palmitoleate was not significantly associated with incident diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

Adiposity (energy imbalance), carbohydrate consumption, and alcohol use-even within typical ranges-are associated with higher circulating palmitoleate concentrations. Circulating palmitoleate is robustly associated with multiple metabolic risk factors but in mixed directions, perhaps related to divergent lifestyle determinants or endogenous sources (liver, adipose tissue) of fatty acid synthesis.

Plasma fatty acid composition and incidence of coronary heart disease in middle aged adults: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

To prospectively investigate the relation of plasma cholesterol ester (CE) and phospholipid (PL) fatty acid (FA) composition with incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD).

METHODS AND RESULTS

3,591 white participants in the Minneapolis field center of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, aged 45-64 years, were studied. Plasma FA composition of CEs and PLs was quantified using gas-liquid chromatography and expressed as percentage of total FAs. Incident CHD was identified during 10.7 years of follow-up. In both CE and PL fractions, the proportions of stearic (18:0) acid, dihomo-gamma-linolenic (20:3n6) acid and total saturated fatty acids (SFAs) were significantly higher while arachidonic (20:4n6) acid and total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were significantly lower among participants who developed incident CHD (n = 282). After adjusting for age, gender, smoking, alcohol drinking, sports activity, and non-FA dietary factors, the incidence of CHD was significantly and positively associated with the proportion of dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid but inversely associated with arachiadonic acid. The multiply-adjusted rate ratios (RRs) of CHD incidence for the highest versus the lowest quintile were 1.31 in CE and 1.44 in PL for dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (p for trend: 0.05 and 0.017, respectively), 0.59 in CE and 0.65 in PL for arachidonic acid (p: 0.016 and 0.024, respectively). Also significantly and positively associated with incident CHD were PL stearic acid and CE linolenic (18:3n3) acid. Only a borderline significant positive association was observed for total SFAs in CE (multivariate RRs across quintiles: 1.00, 1.15, 1.40, 1.62, 1.32; p = 0.07). Total PUFAs or monounsaturated FA were not independently associated with CHD.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study found a weak positive association of SFAs with incident CHD. Our findings also confirm that FA metabolism in the body, such as the activity of delta-5 desaturase, which converts dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid to arachidonic acid, may affect the development of CHD.

Mean corpuscular volume may be a useful index of risk for colorectal adenoma in middle-aged Japanese men

OBJECTIVE

It has been reported that alcohol intake and folate deficiency are associated with an increased risk of colorectal adenomas and carcinomas. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of red blood cells has been reported to be increased in these conditions. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between MCV and risk of colorectal adenoma.

METHODS

The subjects were 497 middle-aged (45-65 yr old) men who underwent both barium enema examination and total colonoscopy. The subjects answered a questionnaire regarding their alcohol consumption history, and their blood samples were analyzed. The subjects were divided into four groups three times: with or without alcoholism, and with or without adenoma according to alcohol intake, and according to the MCV value. Various variables were compared among the groups, and the odds ratios of adenoma were calculated.

RESULTS

The MCV was higher in the alcoholic group than in the nonalcoholic group (p < 0.01) and in patients with adenoma than in those without adenoma (p < 0.0001). When the subjects were stratified by alcohol intake, the MCV value had a higher significant difference than alcohol intake, between patients with adenoma and those without adenoma. As for the MCV value, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of adenoma was 1.00 (referent); (<92), 1.20 (0.71-1.69); (> or =92 but <95), 2.61 (2.07-3.15); (> or =95 but <98); and 3.62 (2.99-4.25); (> or =98).

CONCLUSION

A high MCV value may be used as a simple index of the risk of colorectal adenomas, regardless of alcohol consumption.

Fat emulsion administration in the early postoperative period in patients undergoing esophagectomy for carcinoma depresses arachidonic acid metabolism in neutrophils

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of fat emulsion administration on neutrophil arachidonic acid and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) generation in surgically stressed patients. Total parenteral nutrition was administered to 17 patients for 2 wk after esophagectomy for carcinoma. Eight patients received fat with glucose (fat group, 30% of total calories) and 9 patients received glucose (glucose group) as a non-protein calorie source from the day of the operation to the seventh postoperative day (POD), and they gradually were converted to enteral nutrition during the second postoperative week. The arachidonic acid in the fat group decreased in the serum from POD 4 to 14. and in neutrophils from 12 h after the beginning of surgery to POD 14, compared to preoperative levels. LTB4 production by A23187-stimulated neutrophils was highest 6 h after the beginning of surgery, when neutrophil arachidonic acid concentration was decreasing, and then fell below the preoperative value from POD 4 to 14 in both groups. LTB4 production on POD 14 was lower in the fat group than in the glucose group. Biosynthesis of arachidonic acid from linoleic acid is inhibited in surgically stressed patients receiving fat emulsion, resulting in the diminished synthesis of LTB4 by neutrophils. The decrease in LTB4 may diminish chemotactic and chemokinetic signals to other leukocytes.

Lipoprotein composition and serum cholesterol ester fatty acids in nonwesternized Melanesians

In this study, the relationships between dietary fat [as measured by serum cholesterol ester fatty acids (CE-FA)], age, smoking, body mass index, and serum lipids were analyzed in 151 subsistence horticulturalists, aged 20-86 yr, from Kitava, Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea. Their diet consists of tubers, fruit, coconut, fish, and vegetables with a negligible influence of western food and alcohol. Total fat intake is low [21% of energy (en%)], while saturated fat intake from coconuts is high (17 en%, mainly lauric and myristic acid). In multivariate analysis, 11-43% of the variation of the serum lipoprotein composition was explained by CE-FA, age, and smoking habits. The proportion of CE20:5n-3 explained much of the variation of triglycerides (TG, negative relation) and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C, positive) in both sexes and serum apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1, positive) in the males. CE16:0 was positively related to TG and negatively related to HDL-C and ApoA1 in both sexes, and in males it related negatively to total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C). In males, negative relationships were present between CE18:2n-6 and TC and between CE14:0 and serum lipoprotein(a). Smoking was independently associated with lower ApoA1 in both sexes and with lower HDL-C and higher TG, TC, LDL-C, and apolipoprotein B in males. In conclusion, marine n-3 fatty acids and linoleic acid showed the same potentially beneficial relationships with lipoproteins and apolipoproteins as in western populations. The relations of palmitic acid to serum lipids may be explained in terms of endogenous fat synthesis at a low-fat intake, rather than reflecting its relative intake.

Fatty acid proportions in cholesterol esters and risk of premature death from cancer in middle aged French men

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association of proportions of fatty acids in cholesterol esters with the risk of premature death from cancer in middle aged men.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Paris, France.

SUBJECTS

3277 working men aged 36-52 in 1981-5.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Cancer mortality during an average of 9.3 years of follow up.

RESULTS

59 men died of cancer during follow up. The age adjusted relative risks for men in the highest thirds of the distribution of the proportions of linoleic, palmitoleic, and oleic acid in cholesterol esters as compared with those in the corresponding lowest thirds were 0.16 (95% confidence interval 0.05 to 0.51), 3.39 (1.63 to 7.05), and 4.22 (1.95 to 9.12), respectively. Adjustment for and stratification by smoking, alcohol consumption, serum cholesterol concentration, and body mass index did not alter the results. At the time of examination subjects with cancer had a lower intake of polyunsaturated fats, assessed by 24 hour recall, than those without cancer (13.2 v 17.4 g/day, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids of cholesterol esters are strong biological markers that predict premature death from cancer in French men. Consistently, intake of polyunsaturated fats did not seem to increase the risk of death from cancer. The association of biological markers of dietary fat intake with incidence of and mortality from cancer should be investigated prospectively in other populations.

Evaluation of the effect of alcohol consumption on erythrocyte lipids and vitamins in a healthy population

There is epidemiological evidence that a moderate consumption of alcohol could reduce coronary heart disease. To corroborate this statement and to see how the consumption of red wine affects phospholipid and fatty acid patterns and antioxidant status, a survey was conducted on 58 adult males (20-75 years old). A questionnaire was used to discover their medical history, various constitutional and life-style factors, food habits, and nutrient intake; and the type and amount of alcoholic intake were investigated by means of a questionnaire. Subjects were divided into two groups of nondrinkers and average drinkers (mean 46.5 +/- 4.4, range 30.2-63.4 g/day), and the effect of alcohol was made on the following variables: gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, apolipoprotein AI, apolipoprotein B, total and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides, and antioxidant vitamins were determined in plasma; and phospholipids the fatty acids of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine total cholesterol, alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, and retinol were determined in red blood cells (RBCs). There were no significant differences between the two groups in protein, fat, carbohydrate, retinol equivalent, alpha-tocopherol content, and cholesterol/saturated fat index of their diet. Analysis of the plasma levels of biochemical variables--adjusted for age, smoking (number of cigarettes/day), and body mass index--showed a significant increase of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and apolipoprotein AI concentration in the average drinkers compared with nondrinkers. Plasma alpha-tocopherol and retinol levels were also significantly higher in average drinkers. In the latter group, ANCOVA demonstrated a lower percentage of sphingomyelin in RBCs, with a lower sphingomyelin/PC ratio.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Plasma lipids and fatty acids in urbanized Bushmen, Hereros and Kavangos of southern Africa (Namibia)

Thirty-nine urbanized ethnic Namibian people comprising 21 Bushmen (semi-urbanized), 7 Hereros and 11 Kavangos were assessed for plasma lipids and fatty acid (FA) composition. Total cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations were measured by enzymatic methods, and neutral lipid FA composition by gas-liquid chromatography. The results demonstrated that while total cholesterol concentrations were not significantly different, significant differences in triacylglycerol concentrations (P < 0.05) were seen between Bushmen and Kavangos. By comparing Bushmen with Hereros and Kavangos, significant differences between Bushmen and Kavangos were also observed in plasma triacylglycerol FA compositions, particularly 16:0 (32.73% vs. 25.05%), 16:1n-7 (7.00% vs. 5.06%), 18:2n-6 (9.30% vs. 22.25%) and 20:3n-6 (0.12% vs. 0.48%), while Kavangos had higher 20:4n-6 levels than Hereros (1.44% vs. 2.00%). In plasma cholesteryl esters, Bushmen were significantly different from Kavangos in 16:1n-7 (8.85% vs. 4.93%), 18:1n-9 (32.06% vs. 23.07%) and 20:4n-6 (6.91% vs. 10.00%). Significant differences were also observed between Bushmen and Hereros in 18:0 (1.08% vs. 1.29%) and 18:2n-6 (35.68% vs. 45.50%). The FA of Namibian groups were also compared with South African reference groups comprising urbanized whites and Xhosas and rural Vendas. The differences in blood lipid values can be explained primarily by excessive alcohol consumption. These results suggest that semi-urbanized Bushmen have changed their diets under urbanized conditions which may increase their risk of coronary heart disease.

Laboratory markers of ethanol intake and abuse: a critical appraisal

Laboratory markers for ethanol intake and abuse and chronic alcoholism currently in use have been critically reviewed. The merits and pitfalls of each test have been evaluated. The clinical use of the new test of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin has been particularly emphasized. Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin currently provides the highest specificity and sensitivity of all commonly used markers of alcoholism.

Relation of parental history of early myocardial infarction to the level of apoprotein B in men

The relations between parental history of early myocardial infarction and plasma lipids and apoproteins have been examined in a population of 4045 middle-aged (20 to 60 years old) working men at the initial examination of the Paris Prospective Study 2. Subjects with a history of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, or peripheral arterial disease or those treated with hypolipidemic drugs were excluded from the analysis. The numbers of subjects with a paternal or maternal history of early myocardial infarction were 123 and 30, respectively. After adjustment for age, cigarette consumption, alcohol consumption, and body mass index, subjects with parental history of myocardial infarction had higher levels of total cholesterol (p less than .01), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (p less than .01), and apoprotein B (APOB) (p less than .0001) and a lower level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (p less than .05) than subjects with no parental history of myocardial infarction. On the other hand, apoprotein A1 (APOA1) and triglyceride levels were not different between the two groups. The ratios of HDL/total cholesterol and APOA1/APOB were also lower in presence of parental myocardial infarction (p less than .001 and p less than .01, respectively). When a discriminant analysis was performed, only APOB level was related to parental myocardial infarction. The results for paternal and maternal history were very similar and were grouped for the analysis. We conclude that part of the known relationship between parental history of myocardial infarction and coronary heart disease could be mediated by an increased APOB level.

Body mass, blood pressure, glucose, and lipids. Does plasma insulin explain their relationships?

Obesity, hypertension, a high plasma level of glucose, and some lipid abnormalities (high plasma levels of cholesterol and triglycerides) often occur in the same individuals. Some authors have postulated that the elevated levels of plasma insulin in obese individuals may explain this association. To explore this hypothesis further, the relationships between body mass index, fasting plasma glucose and insulin, blood pressure, serum lipids, and apoproteins were investigated in a group of 2144 healthy middle-aged men. Analysis of the data show that the associations between body mass index and blood pressure or lipid variables are largely independent of plasma glucose and insulin. Plasma glucose is strongly related to blood pressure in nonobese subjects. Plasma insulin is not associated with blood pressure independently of body mass index and plasma glucose; however, the simultaneous elevation of body mass index, plasma glucose, and insulin is strongly associated with blood pressure. The results also confirm that plasma insulin is positively related to triglycerides and negatively related to high density lipoprotein cholesterol independently of plasma glucose and body mass index.

Hepatic triacylglycerol accumulation induced by ethanol and carbon tetrachloride: interactions with essential fatty acids and prostaglandins

Triacylglycerol accumulation in the liver (fatty liver) caused by ethanol or carbon tetrachloride involves interactions with essential fatty acids and prostaglandins. The degree to which the fatty liver develops is dependent on total dietary fat intake. Both ethanol and carbon tetrachloride impair desaturation of linoleic acid and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid and this appears to be relevant to the pathogenesis of fatty liver from two points of view. First, low arachidonic acid in liver phospholipids is associated with increased liver triacylglycerol content whether caused by ethanol, carbon tetrachloride, or essential fatty acid deficiency. Second, essential fatty acids including gamma-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid, as well as the prostaglandins, prevent ethanol- and carbon tetrachloride-induced fatty liver. Arachidonic acid and possibly the prostaglandins are therefore likely to be directly involved in lipoprotein and triacylglycerol secretion by the liver.

The role of essential fatty acids in alcohol dependence and tissue damage

Evidence for the role of essential fatty acids in alcohol dependence is reviewed. If alcohol-induced tissue damage is associated with impaired fatty acid and phospholipid metabolism, supplements of essential fatty acids might be beneficial in the treatment of alcoholics. The evidence for this effect is examined.

Changes in neutral lipids in brain synaptosomes of rats after chronic administration of ethanol

Rats were chronically treated with ethanol in a liquid milk diet for 21 days so that the animals consumed 10 +/- 1 g/kg ethanol daily. Following decapitation, the cortex and hippocampus were removed and a synaptosomal fraction prepared from the cortex. After chronic administration of ethanol, a significant decrease in the cholesterol esters:cholesterol ratio was found in the cortical synaptosomes and a decrease was found in the linoleate content of the cholesterol esters fraction. The composition of the pool of free fatty acids remained unchanged. These results are in agreement with those previously reported which show that following its chronic administration, ethanol decreases polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of phospholipids in the synaptosomal fraction and increases the saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids in cholesterol esters.

Identification of alcohol abuse and alcoholism with biological parameters

The prevalence and incidence of heavy alcohol consumption are major problems which have been increasing in many countries in recent years. It is crucial for physicians to consistently identify early drinking problems as well as the various end disease states in order to minimize suffering and maximize recovery. This paper reviews the evolutionary development of clinical tools for detection of alcohol abuse. The focus is primarily on clinical/biochemical indicators of alcohol abuse, emphasizing but not limited to changes in hematological characteristics, liver enzyme activity, lipids, immune function factors, hormones, neurological factors, and some physically based tests. Use of test combinations and sophisticated statistical analysis of pattern changes in test batteries evidence increased diagnostic efficiency.