Individual Differences in Hyperlipidemia and Vitamin E Status in Response to Chronic Alcohol Self-Administration in Cynomolgus Monkeys

Background: Chronic ethanol self‐administration induces oxidative stress and exacerbates lipid peroxidation. α‐Tocopherol is a potent lipid antioxidant and vitamin that is dependent upon lipoprotein transport for tissue delivery. Methods: To evaluate the extent to which vitamin E status is deranged by excessive alcohol consumption, monkeys voluntarily drinking ethanol (1.36 to 3.98 g/kg/d for 19 months, n = 11) were compared with nondrinkers (n = 5, control). Results: Three alcohol‐drinking animals developed hyperlipidemia with plasma triglyceride levels (1.8 ± 0.9 mM) double those of normolipidemic (NL) drinkers (0.6 ± 0.2) and controls (0.6 ± 0.3, p