Table 2.

Summary of studies assessing the relationship between moderate alcohol consumption and lipid profile. HDL-C: high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol.

Study Model	Outcome(s)	Study Characteristics	Main Findings	References
Drinkers vs. abstainers	HDL-C level and changes in the coronary vasculature	Benefits of moderate consumption of red wine	Drinkers displayed a significantly higher HDL-C level and a protective effect on coronary lesions	[110]
Men	HDL-C level	The study included 5409 subjects categorized in abstainers, moderate, high, and very high alcohol drinkers	Alcohol consumption increased HDL-C levels	[111]
Hypertensive population	Lipid profile	Benefits of moderate consumption of alcohol	Alcohol consumption was negatively associated with prevalence of low HDL-C levels, whereas the prevalence of high triglyceride levels increased with increasing amounts of alcohol intake	[112]
Cohort study	Cardioprotective function	Increasing HDL-C levels as the mechanism used by alcohol to exert its cardioprotective function	Increasing HDL-C levels is not a relevant mechanism by which ethanol exerts its cardioprotective effect	[113]
Meta-analysis	Lipid profile	Effect of moderate alcohol consumption on lipid profile	Alcohol consumption increased the levels of HDL-C, apolipoprotein A1, and adiponectin but not triglycerides levels.	[114]