The Goodness in Beer

Published Online: Sunday, December 1, 2002   [ Request Print ]

Moderate consumption of beer was linked to increased high-density lipo-protein (HDL) cholesterol levels in women in a study published in Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research. The study involved 9 women aged 49 to 62 who were asked to drink 3 glasses of beer each night with dinner for 3 weeks,  followed by another 3-month period in which they did not drink beer. A controlled diet was used during both periods. Consumption of beer was linked to a 12% increase in HDL cholesterol levels and a 9% increase in apolipoprotein A-I levels. In addition, paraoxonase activity levels increased by 4% after 2 weeks of beer consumption. Larger studies are needed to confirm these beneficial effects of beer.