The beneficial association of alcohol may be explained by the effect of ethanol to decrease TG concentration through the increased activity of lipoprotein lipase.29 A study among an American older population showed significantly lower TG concentrations in individuals who consumed one or two drinks per day compared to non-drinkers.30 However, the inverse relationship between long term alcohol consumption and hypertriglyceridemia was not apparent in currently smoking men. Here, LPL is linked to hypertriglyceridemia.