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Alcohol consumption and body composition in a population-based sample of elderly Australian men

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Abstract

Background

Alcohol is calorie dense, and impacts activity, appetite and lipid processing. The aim of this study was to therefore investigate the association between alcohol consumption and components of body composition including bone, fat and lean tissue.

Methods

Participants were recruited from a randomly selected, population-based sample of 534 men aged 65 years and older enrolled in the Geelong Osteoporosis Study. Alcohol intake was ascertained using a food frequency questionnaire and the sample categorised as non-drinkers or alcohol users who consumed ≤2, 3–4 or ≥5 standard drinks on a usual drinking day. Bone mineral density (BMD), lean body mass and body fat mass were measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry; overall adiposity (%body fat), central adiposity (%truncal fat) and body mass index (BMI) were calculated. Bone quality was determined by quantitative heel ultrasound (QUS).

Results

There were 90 current non-drinkers (16.9 %), 266 (49.8 %) consumed 1–2 drinks/day, 104 (19.5 %) 3–4 drinks/day and 74 (13.8 %) ≥5 drinks/day. Those consuming ≥5 drinks/day had greater BMI (+4.8 %), fat mass index (+20.1 %), waist circumference (+5.0 %), %body fat (+15.2 %) and proportion of trunk fat (+5.3 %) and lower lean mass (−5.0 %) than non-drinkers after adjustment for demographic and lifestyle factors. Furthermore, they were more likely to be obese than non-drinkers according to criteria based on BMI (OR = 2.83, 95 %CI 1.10–7.29) or waist circumference (OR = 3.36, 95 %CI 1.32–8.54). There was an inverse relationship between alcohol consumption and QUS parameters and BMD at the mid forearm site; no differences were detected for BMD at other skeletal sites.

Conclusion

Higher alcohol intake was associated with greater total and central adiposity and reduced bone quality.

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Acknowledgments

SL Brennan is the recipient of NHMRC Early Career Fellowship (1012472). Michael Berk has received Grant/Research Support from the NIH, Simons Autism Foundation, Cancer Council of Victoria, Stanley Medical Research Foundation, MBF, NHMRC, Beyond Blue, Geelong Medical Research Foundation, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Glaxo SmithKline, Organon, Novartis, Mayne Pharma and Servier, has been a speaker for Astra Zeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Glaxo SmithKline, Janssen Cilag, Lundbeck, Merck, Pfizer, Sanofi Synthelabo, Servier, Solvayand Wyeth, and served as a consultant to Astra Zeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Glaxo SmithKline, Janssen Cilag, Lundbeck and Servier.

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    Carolyn E. Coulson, Lana J. Williams & Michael Berk

  2. School of Medicine, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia

    Lana J. Williams, Sharon L. Brennan, Michael Berk, Mark A. Kotowicz & Julie A. Pasco

  3. Department of Medicine, NorthWest Academic Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    Sharon L. Brennan, Mark A. Kotowicz & Julie A. Pasco

  4. Orygen Research Centre, Melbourne, Australia

    Michael Berk

  5. Mental Health Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia

    Michael Berk

  6. Department of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia

    Mark A. Kotowicz & Julie A. Pasco

  7. Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre, Eastern Health and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

    Dan I. Lubman

  8. Barwon Psychiatric Research Unit, Kitchener House, Barwon Health, PO Box 281, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia

    Carolyn E. Coulson

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  1. Carolyn E. Coulson
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  2. Lana J. Williams
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  3. Sharon L. Brennan
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  4. Michael Berk
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  5. Mark A. Kotowicz
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  6. Dan I. Lubman
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  7. Julie A. Pasco
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Correspondence to Carolyn E. Coulson.

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Coulson, C.E., Williams, L.J., Brennan, S.L. et al. Alcohol consumption and body composition in a population-based sample of elderly Australian men. Aging Clin Exp Res 25, 183–192 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-013-0026-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-013-0026-9

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