An American team of researchers found that beer, red wine, white wine and other alcoholic beverages have different effects on body composition.
L’alcohol is considered one of the main enemies for us health for several reasons: it is not only classified in the category 1 of the carcinogenic substances of the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer), along with “uncomfortable” companions like that cigarette smoke andasbestosbut it is also associated with high levels of visceral fat. This condition, as described in The Conversation by Professor Brittany Larsen, associate professor of neuroscience at Iowa State University, is in turn associated with potentially life-threatening illnesses such as: cardiovascular pathologies, Metabolic syndrome and other complications. Nevertheless, a distinction must be made, since not all alcoholic beverages have the same health risks. For example, it was found that the red wine is associated with lower concentrations of visceral fat while the White winealthough it does not affect this factor, it is related to one better bone densitya particularly favorable condition for Seniors.
To determine these benefits of moderate consumption of red and white wine, an international research team led by scientists from the University of Ames who worked closely with colleagues from the University of West Carolina and the University of Iowa’s Department of Nutrition Sciences. The researchers, coordinated by Professor Larsen, came to their conclusions after analyzing the effects of different types of alcohol (Beerred wine, white wine / sparkling wine, liqueurs etc etc) in the event of changes to the body composition, such as obesity and bone loss. Scientists conducted a longitudinal study in which they collected data from almost 1,900 people aged between 40 and 80 (59 per cent male), all of which were uploaded to the UK BioBank database. The participants in the study completed questionnaires in which they indicated their lifestyle, alcohol consumption, physical activity and socio-demographic factors. The researchers then collected blood samples and conducted anthropometric tests; For example, body composition was determined by “dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry,” as stated in the study abstract. Cardiometabolic biomarkers and other data were also collected.
Crossing all the information, it was found that participants who consumed more beer and other alcohol had higher alcohol consumption visceral obesityin turn connected to dyslipidemia (change in blood lipids) e insulin resistance, a condition associated with diabetes. Red wine consumers, on the other hand, had lower visceral fat mass, associated with reduced inflammation and high-density high-lipoprotein. Finally, those who drank white wine regularly were more likely to have greater bone density. As explained by Professor Larsen, alcohol consumption can contribute to this overweight or toobesityHowever, several studies have shown conflicting results because they likely analyzed alcohol as a whole, despite the differences found in this new survey. The recommendation of the experts is that the consumption is always moderate and on the advice of your doctor/nutritionist. The details of the study “Beer, Wine and Spirits Affect Body Composition in Older White Adults – A UK Biobank Study” were published in the scientific journal Obesity Science and Practice.