Do wine drinkers eat differently?
A study with almost 30,000 participants from 14 European countries showed that dietary habits and diet quality did not differ greatly according to the alcoholic beverage preference.
The relationship between moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages and cardiovascular diseases is assumed to be J-shaped. Numerous studies have reported protective effects of alcoholic beverages against cardiovascular disease, some with more favourable effects; for instance, wine compared to beer or spirit consumption. However, it has been suggested that the observed differences between wine, beer, spirits and cardiovascular mortality might be due to the dietary habits associated with the preference of these beverages and not with the alcoholic beverage as such.
A team of researchers aimed to describe and compare dietary habits in adults with their alcoholic beverage preference. Data from the CHANCES (Consortium on Health and Ageing: Network of Cohorts in Europe and the United States) project with almost 30.000 participants of 14 studies across Europe and the US were gathered and included in the analysis.
Overall, this large study with harmonized alcohol and dietary data from different European countries showed no consistent dietary patterns associated with alcoholic beverage preference after adjusting for socio-demographic and lifestyle factors.
The scientists concluded that in future studies examining the intake of alcoholic beverages and health effects, all associated socio-economic and lifestyle factors, including diet, should be considered.
Sluik D, Jankovic N, O’Doherty MG, Geelen A, Schöttker B, Rolandsson O, Kiefte-de Jong JC, Ferrieres J, Bamia C, Fransen HP, Boer JM, Eriksson S, Martínez B, Huerta JM, Kromhout D, de Groot LC, Franco OH, Trichopoulou A, Boffetta P, Kee F, Feskens EJ , Alcoholic Beverage Preference and Dietary Habits in Elderly across Europe: Analyses within the Consortium on Health and Ageing: Network of Cohorts in Europe and the United States (CHANCES) Project. PLoS One. 2016 Aug 22;11(8):e0161603. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161603. eCollection 2016
For more information about this article, read the scientific abstract here.