Beer mitigates some effects of copper deficiency in rats

Abstract

Because of an epidemiologic association of decreased risk of death from ischemic heart disease with moderate use of alcoholic beverages, and because numerous abnormalities found in people with ischemic heart disease are also found in animals deficient in copper, rats were fed a diet deficient in copper and were given either beer or water to drink. Rats drinking beer lived nearly six times as long and had lower plasma cholesterol, less cardiac enlargement, and higher liver copper. Apparent absorption and biological half-life of oral radiocopper were increased by beer. The effects were not attributable to alcohol, chromium, or copper in beer. Beer intakes were similar to those of some people in the United States. Results may explain seasonal cycles in plasma cholesterol and may be germane to the epidemiology of ischemic heart disease because diets in the United States seem to be low in copper.