Alcohol consumption, smoking habits and body fat distribution in Italian men and women aged 20-60 years.
The study was performed on 601 patients (294 males and 307 females) of a general practitioner. Alcohol intake and smoking habits were compared with other anthropometric measurements including waist-to-hip girth ratio. Patients were divided into non-smokers and smokers (subdivided into three groups according to the number of cigarettes smoked per day) and into non-drinkers and drinkers (subdivided into three groups with different alcohol intakes). Ex-smokers were excluded from the study. Analysis of covariance using age, body mass index, physical activity and menopausal status as covariates, showed that: (1) cigarette smoking is not accompanied by a specific pattern for body fat distribution; (2) waist-to-hip ratio was significantly different for the four classes of alcohol intake for women (non-drinkers: 0.809, < 11 g: 0.805, 11-20 g: 0.809, > 20 g: 0.826; F = 2.8, P < 0.05) but not for men (non-drinkers: 0.944, < 20 g: 0.934, 21-40 g: 0.940, > 40 g: 0.943; F = 0.9); (3) increased alcohol intake corresponds to an increased lipid and energy supply.
Armellini
F
F
Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Verona, Italy.
Zamboni
M
M
Frigo
L
L
Mandragona
R
R
Robbi
R
R
Micciolo
R
R
Bosello
O
O
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D013861:Thiocyanates / Q000097:blood
D013861:Thiocyanates; C031760:thiocyanate