Study Finds Quitting Alcohol May Increase ‘Bad’ Cholesterol

Quick Summary

• A decade-long study in Japan examined the effects of alcohol consumption on cholesterol levels.
• The study involved over 57,700 individuals and analyzed more than 3.2 lakh health check-ups.
• Quitting alcohol was linked to increased LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol and decreased HDL (‘good’) cholesterol.
• Starting to drink alcohol showed modest improvements in cholesterol levels.
• Experts questioned the methodology, suggesting results might potentially be influenced by heavy drinkers quitting alcohol.
• Earlier research on moderate drinking benefits is being scrutinized for possibly misleading conclusions.

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Indian Opinion Analysis

The findings from this study provide insight into the complex relationship between alcohol consumption and cholesterol levels. Tho, caution should be exercised due to methodological concerns raised by experts. Particularly noteworthy is that heavy drinkers who quit may skew results unfavorably when compared with moderate drinkers.

This emphasizes the need for further balanced research to understand any potential benefits or risks of moderate drinking accurately. it also reinforces WHO’s stance that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption,which remains a critical health consideration globally including in India.for policymakers and health professionals in India, these findings may underline the need for clear guidance on alcohol consumption and public education about associated risks.

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