Original Articles
Maduka Ignatius C and Egwu Mar
Abstract
Background: Since the discovery of alcohol, alcoholic beverages and the problems they engender have been familiar in human societies. About 3.5% of the global burdens of disease are attributable to alcohol. Alcohol metabolism in the liver results in the generation of acetaldehyde and highly reactive oxygen-containing molecules known as ROS. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of alcohol consumption on serum levels of lipid profile, apolipoprotein B-100 (Apo B-100) and serum cardiac biomarkers (Troponin I and Creatine kinase). This study was a case-control study carried out in Anambra State, Nigeria. A total of 200 men (aged 30 to 70 years) consisting of 105 alcoholics (test) and 95 non alcoholics (control) subjects were recruited for the study. Their mean ages were 52.59 ±13.00 and 53.00 ±10.90 respectively. Four (4ml) of blood was collected after overnight fasting of 12 hours. Their serum lipid profile (triglyceride, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, & low density lipoprotein) and Apo B-100 were measured using standard methods. Student’s t test was used to compare averages between groups of the study and data were presented as means ± SD. Level of significance was taken at P values <0.05. All lipid profile parameters except TG and Apo B-100 were significantly higher in alcoholics compared to non-alcoholics. There was no statistical significant difference in the mean levels of TG and Apo B-100 between the test and control subjects. Troponin and Creatine Kinase-MB were also significantly increased in the alcoholics when compared to non-alcoholics. In conclusion, significantly altered lipid profile and cardiac markers is found in alcoholics compared to non-alcoholics, which indicates that, the alcoholics have an increased risk of dyslipidaemia and cardiovascular diseases.