Cholesterol 'can be reduced by alcohol'

Patients with high cholesterol have been told that drinking a moderate amount of alcohol can help increase the amount of good cholesterol in their blood.

Linda Main, a nutritionist and dietician for Heart UK, explained that alcohol can increase the amount of high-density lipoprotein in the blood and thus could help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

These effects will only be seen if patients drink between one and three units each day and the benefit is too small for people who do not already drink to begin consuming alcohol, she said.

Ms Main also advised that if a person drinks in excess of three units a day their risk of coronary heart disease will begin to increase.

According to the British Heart Foundation, high cholesterol can be caused by a diet which contains a lot saturated fat, but can also be attributed to a genetic condition called familial hyperlipidaemia.

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Heart treatment news : 25 November 2011