Key Points

Question Are changes in alcohol consumption, both initiation and cessation, associated with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in settings outside intense interventions?

Findings In this cohort study of 57 691 individuals undergoing annual health checkups at a center for preventive medicine in Japan, alcohol cessation was significantly associated with increased LDL-C and decreased HDL-C levels compared with continuing alcohol intake. Alcohol initiation showed opposite significant associations, with these changes more pronounced at higher consumption levels.

Meaning These results suggest that monitoring lipid profiles after changing alcohol habit is essential for optimizing cholesterol management.

Abstract

Importance Despite growing criticism of alcohol consumption due to its overall health risks, it remains unknown how changes in alcohol consumption, particularly cessation, affect lipid profiles outside of intense interventions.

Objective To clarify the association of alcohol initiation and cessation with subsequent changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C).

Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study included individuals undergoing annual checkups at a center for preventive medicine in Tokyo, Japan, from October 2012 to October 2022. Individuals treated with lipid-lowering medications were excluded. Data were analyzed from May to December 2024.

Exposures Alcohol initiation (vs remaining abstainer) and cessation (vs continuing same alcohol intake) between 2 consecutive visits. One standard drink was equivalent to 10 g of pure ethanol.

Main Outcomes and Measures Change in LDL-C and HDL-C levels between 2 consecutive visits.

Results Among the 328 676 visits from 57 691 individuals (mean [SD] age, 46.8 [12.5] years; 30 576 female [53.0%]), the cohort for evaluating alcohol cessation comprised 49 898 visits among 25 144 participants (mean [SD] age, 49 [12.1] years; 12 334 female [49.1%]; mean [SD] LDL-C, 114.7 [28.4] mg/dL; mean [SD] HDL-C, 65.5 [16.4] mg/dL). Alcohol cessation was associated with changes in LDL-C of 1.10 mg/dL (95% CI, 0.76 to 1.45 mg/dL) among those discontinuing habits of fewer than 1.5 drinks/d, 3.71 mg/dL (95% CI, 2.71 to 4.71 mg/dL) for 1.5 to 3.0 drinks/d, and 6.53 mg/dL (95% CI, 5.14 to 7.91 mg/dL) for 3.0 or more drinks/d. Cessation was associated with a change in HDL-C of −1.25 mg/dL (95% CI, −1.41 to −1.09 mg/dL) among those discontinuing habits of fewer than 1.5 drinks/d, −3.35 mg/dL (−4.41 to −2.29 mg/dL) for 1.5 to 3.0 drinks/d, and −5.65 mg/dL (95% CI, −6.28 to −5.01 mg/dL) for 3.0 or more drinks/d. The cohort for evaluating alcohol initiation (107 880 visits; 29 042 participants) showed inverse dose-response associations.

Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study of Japanese annual health checkup participants, alcohol initiation was associated with modest cholesterol improvement, whereas cessation was associated with less favorable changes. After alcohol reduction, lipid profile changes should be carefully monitored to optimize cardiovascular disease risk management at both individual and population levels.

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