The effect of Moderate Beer consumption on Plasma Homocysteine and Cholesterol Level

Abstract

Hyperhomocysteinaemia is implicated in various disease states and conditions including cardiovascular diseases. Various studies have shown that moderate beer consumption helps to lower the level of plasma homocysteine which is beneficial to human health. The aim of this study is therefore the determination of the effect of beer on plasma Homocysteine level in healthy adults in Ekpoma, Nigeria. 40 Healthy fasting adult males and females were screened and randomized into two groups; control (water) and beer (1bottle). They had venepuncture while supine and without tourniquet. Homocysteine, tHcy, assay was done using ELISA with tHcy binding protein as the capturing enzyme.  Excluded from the study were subjects with impaired renal and hepatic function. Hypertensives and diabetics were also ruled out.  The mean level of tHcy in males and females were 8.4 ± 0.8µmol/L and 7.1 ± 0.5µmol/L respectively and these reduced markedly after two weeks of moderate beer consumption.  The cholesterol level before and after two weeks of beer in males and females are as follows; 4.5 v 3.9, 4.1 v 3.6 mmol/L. It remained unchanged in the control group. Moderate consumption of beer lowers tHcy.

Keywords: Homocysteine, plasma, proteins, Beer, cholesterol, Nigeria