Beer, wine, and spirits differentially influence body composition in older white adults–a United Kingdom Biobank study

Abstract

BACKGROUND:Aging is characterized by body composition alterations, including increased visceral adiposity accumulation and bone loss. Alcohol consumption may partially drive these alterations, but findings are mixed. This study primarily aimed to investigate whether different alcohol types (beer/cider, red wine, white wine/ Champagne, spirits) differentially associated with body composition. METHODS:The longitudinal UK Biobank study leveraged 1869 White participants (40-80 years; 59% male). Participants self-reported demographic, alcohol/dietary consumption, and lifestyle factors using a touchscreen questionnaire. Anthropometrics and serum for proteomics were collected. Body composition was obtained via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Structural equation modeling was used to probe direct/indirect associations between alcohol types, cardiometabolic biomarkers, and body composition. RESULTS:Greater beer/spirit consumptions were associated with greater visceral adiposity (β = 0.069, p < 0.001 and β = 0.014, p < 0.001, respectively), which was driven by dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. In contrast, drinking more red wine was associated with less visceral adipose mass (β = −0.023, p < 0.001), which was driven by reduced inflammation and elevated high-density lipoproteins. White wine consumption predicted greater bone density (β = 0.051, p < 0.005).DISCUSSION: Beer/spirits may partially contribute to the "empty calorie" hypothesis related to adipogenesis, while red wine may help protect against adipogenesis due to anti-inflammatory/eulipidemic effects. Furthermore, white wine may benefit bone health in older White adults.1

Biomarkers of moderate alcohol intake and alcoholic beverages: a systematic literature review

“…Moreover, there is a considerable interest to discriminate between the different alcoholic beverages: that is, to objectively assess the type of alcoholic beverage consumed. For instance, physiological or health effects specifically related to red wine or beer have recently been reviewed [ 13 – 15 ]. Assessing compliance is also important and demands objective tools to assess alcohol consumption; factors such as the time lapse since the last drink, the frequency of drinking, and the different beverages consumed are also important questions in need of objective biomarker strategies.…”

“…What constitutes moderate intake is historically and geographically diverse, and we have therefore covered the studies on biomarkers within the ranges reported as common social drinking, thereby excluding chronic abuse. Narrative reviews on alcohol intake biomarkers in relation to forensic and clinical studies have been published recently [ 15 , 18 ].…”

Effect of moderate beer consumption (with and without ethanol) on cardiovascular health in postmenopausal women

“…The effect of low to moderate drinking beer on abdominal fat is a controversial issue, with conflicting evidence in the literature. The consumption of AB has been directly and proportionally correlated with the accumulation of visceral adipose mass, 33,34 but other studies describe the opposite or null effect. 51,52 In the present study, the dietary covariates were controlled and the participants were encouraged to drink beer at mealtimes.…”

“…Although consumption of beer has been associated with negative health effects in the general population, such as weight gain and visceral fat accumulation, 33,34 many studies have reported that moderate beer intake can have beneficial effects on the lipid profile, CV risk, and mortality, mainly attributable to the polyphenol content. [35][36][37] Nevertheless, few studies evaluating the relationship between beer and CVD have stratified their conclusions by sex.…”

High-density lipoprotein functionality, cardiovascular health, and patterns of alcohol consumption: new insights and future perspectives

“…Taking a broader view, when pursuing further research on the effects of alcohol consumption, it is important to consider factors such as the quantity, frequency and context in which alcohol is consumed, as well as the specific population and clinical outcomes of interest [57]. For example, differences in the health effect of specific alcoholic beverages like red wine have been proposed [58], as have distinct patterns based upon frequency of intake and quantity consumed per drinking day [59]. Indeed, the 2021 ECS Guidelines specifically recommend a Mediterranean diet [56], including 'moderate' consumption of alcohol, and a distinct Mediterranean pattern has been described [60].…”