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

Aging is characterised by body composition alterations, including increased visceral adiposity accumulation and bone loss. Alcohol consumption may partially drive these alterations, but findings are mixed. A study investigated whether different alcohol types (beer/cider, red wine, white wine/Champagne, spirits) are differentially associated with body composition.
1,869 White participants (40-80 years; 59% male) from The longitudinal UK Biobank study were included in the analysis. 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. The direct/indirect associations between alcohol types, cardiometabolic biomarkers, and body composition were analysed.
Greater beer/spirit consumptions were associated with greater visceral adiposity (β = 0.069 and β = 0.014, 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), which was driven by reduced inflammation and elevated high-density lipoproteins. White wine consumption predicted greater bone density (β = 0.051).
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, the study authors conclude.
Source: Larsen BA, Klinedinst BS, Le ST, Pappas C, Wolf T, Meier NF, Lim YL, Willette AA. Beer, wine, and spirits differentially influence body composition in older white adults-a United Kingdom Bi-obank study. Obes Sci Pract. 2022 Feb 16;8(5):641-656.