Japanese study finds that drinking alcohol surprisingly improves cholesterol levels, more effective than lipid-lowering drugs
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Lipid Profiles After Changes in Alcohol Consumption Among Adults Undergoing Annual Checkups | Public Health | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2831319
Large study shows drinking alcohol is good for your cholesterol levels - Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/03/large-study-shows-drinking-alcohol-is-good-for-your-cholesterol-levels/
In a study published in JAMA Network Open, a publication of the American Medical Association, on March 12, 2025, Takahiro Suzuki and his colleagues from St. Luke's International Hospital analyzed data from participants who underwent annual health checkups at the St. Luke's International Hospital Preventive Medicine Center.
The data included a total of 57,691 participants and assessed the association between four alcohol intake patterns and cholesterol levels: those who continued to drink alcohol consistently between the two tests, those who drank alcohol initially but abstained between the two tests, those who did not drink alcohol initially but started drinking again between the two tests, and those who did not drink consistently.
The analysis showed that those who switched from 'non-drinkers' to 'drinkers' during the period experienced a decrease in bad cholesterol while their good cholesterol increased, changes that exceeded the improvements typically seen with lipid-lowering medications. Conversely, former drinkers who stopped drinking alcohol experienced an increase in bad cholesterol and a decrease in good cholesterol.
The specific results are as follows: When 10g of pure ethanol (for example, 250ml of 5% alcohol beer) is considered a 'drink,' the changes in good cholesterol (HDL) and bad cholesterol (LDL) due to increases or decreases in alcohol consumption were fairly consistent, except for cases in which LDL improved when people who had been drinking 1.5 to 3 drinks abstained from alcohol. Basically, the more they drank, the better, and conversely, the less they drank, the worse it got.
| Drinking status | Alcohol consumption (cups/day) | Change in LDL-C (mg/dL) | Change in HDL-C (mg/dL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Started drinking | <1.5 | -0.85 | +0.58 |
| 1.5–3.0 | -4.40 | +2.49 | |
| ≥3.0 | -7.44 | +6.12 | |
| Quitting drinking | <1.5 | +1.10 | -1.25 |
| 1.5–3.0 | -3.71 | -3.35 | |
| ≥3.0 | +6.53 | -5.65 |
The research team analyzed three models that adjusted for various factors, including basic factors such as age, sex, and BMI, as well as disease factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes, and lifestyle factors such as exercise habits, diet, and smoking, but all showed similar associations. In addition, the types of alcoholic beverages consumed by the participants were varied, including beer, wine, whiskey, sake, shochu, and other alcoholic beverages, but the results were similar for all alcoholic beverages.
It is not clear why drinking alcohol improves lipid test results, but the diet preferred by people who like spicy food may be a factor. For example, people who consume alcohol tend to be overweight, but they also tend to consume less carbohydrates and sweets and more fish. Seafood, especially blue fish, is rich in essential fatty acids such as EPA and DHA, which help lower cholesterol levels. It has also been pointed out that complex factors may play a role, such as the fact that low-carb diets can help people lose weight but can also increase bad cholesterol.
While the findings are not intended to encourage non-drinkers to drink alcohol or to encourage heavy drinkers to continue their habit, the researchers wrote in their paper, 'Our findings support the hypothesis that alcohol consumption may improve lipid profiles in the long term and protect against certain diseases, such as atherosclerosis .'
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