Protective effect of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaric acid in alcohol‐induced lipemia

Abstract
Oral administration of 1 g of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaric acid (HMG) before the ingestion of whiskey and a fatty meal markedly reduced the elevation of serum triglycerides, β‐lipoproteins, phospholipids, and cholesterol in man. In rats receiving an ethanol and corn oil mixture, HMG also inhibited the increase in postprandial serum and liver lipids. A comparative study of HMG and nicotinic acid in rats showed that, therapeutically, 50 mg MHG/kg body weight is equivalent to 200 mg nicotinic acid/kg body weight in offering almost total protection against lipemic effects of ethanol.