Previously, these individuals were told to avoid it. The results were published in the May 10 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. Since regular, moderate consumption of alcohol has been shown to protect the heart, these findings are especially significant because HTG patients are at increased risk for heart disease.
Triglycerides are a common blood fat.
An excess amount of these fats increases the risk of heart disease and heart attack. Triglyceride levels tend to increase as a person ages and develops diabetes. The study involved 24 participants half with HTG and half without who fasted for 12 hours prior to consuming alcohol. Each subject had the equivalent of two alcoholic drinks and continued to fast for 10 hours. Six hours after consumption, the non-HTG group had a 53 percent increase in triglyceride concentration, while the HTG group had only a three percent increase.