Moderate alcohol consumption, types of beverages and drinking pattern with cardiometabolic biomarkers in three cohorts of US men and women

Underlying mechanisms of the inverse relationship between moderate alcohol consumption and cardiometabolic disorders are unclear. Modification by types of alcoholic beverages consumed and drinking pattern remains understudied. A research team aimed to provide insight into the mechanisms by examining 14 insulinemic/glycemic, inflammatory and lipid markers. Cross-sectional data from 15,436 women in the Nurses’ Health Study, 19,318 women in the Nurses’ Health Study II, and 6,872 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study were used in the study to estimate the percentage differences in biomarker concentrations according to alcohol intakes.
The average alcohol intake in the combined cohort was 3.3 servings/week. A 1 serving/d increment in alcohol intake (14 g ethanol, 44 ml liquor or 355 ml beer or 118 ml wine per day) was associated with a 0.6% lower level of HbA1c, 1.7-3.6% lower proinflammatory markers and 4.2% higher adiponectin, as well as 7.1% higher HDL-cholesterol and 2.1% lower triglyceride with a significant linear trend. Wine, especially red wine, was associated with lower inflammation in particular. Beer had weaker favourable to null associations with blood lipids and adiponectin. Liquor was associated with higher C-peptide and interleukin-6, yet equally associated with lower HbA1c and higher HDL-cholesterol as other beverages.
Drinking 3 days or more per week was related to a better biomarker profile than nonregular drinking independent of intake levels. Drinking appeared to have similar associations irrespective whether done with meals or not. The data indicated moderate alcohol intake, especially if consumed from wine and done regularly, was associated with favourable profiles of insulinemic/glycemic and inflammatory markers and blood lipids, the researchers conclude.
Source: Li, X., Hur, J., Cao, Y. et al. Moderate alcohol consumption, types of beverages and drinking pattern with cardiometabolic biomarkers in three cohorts of US men and women. Eur J Epidemiol (2023).