title: Nutritional profile of asymptomatic alcoholic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alcoholism may interfere with nutritional status, but reports are often troubled by uncertainties about ingested diet and organ function, as well as by ongoing abuse and associated conditions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify nutritional and body compartment changes in stable alcoholics without confounding clinical and dietetic variables, a prospective observational pilot study was designed. Three well-matched populations were considered: subjects with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis, alcoholics without visceral disease, and healthy never-drinking adults (controls).
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects (n = 60) were asymptomatic males with adequate diet, no superimposed disease or complication, and alcohol-free for at least 6 months. After exclusions, 48 patients were compared. Variables encompassed dietary recall, bioimpedance analysis, biochemical profile and inflammatory markers. Main outcome measures were body fat, lean body mass, serum lipids, C-reactive protein, and selected minerals and vitamins.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both alcoholic populations suffered from reduced lean body mass (P = 0.001), with well-maintained body fat.Magnesium was depleted, and values of vitamin D and B12 correlated with alcohol abuse. LDL and total cholesterol was increased in alcoholics without pancreatitis (P = 0.04), but not in those with visceral damage. C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A correlated with duration of excessive drinking (P = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Undernutrition (diminished lean body mass, risk of magnesium and vitamin deficiencies) contrasted with dyslipidemia and increased cardiovascular risk. This second danger was masked during chronic pancreatitis but not in alcoholics without visceral disease. Further studies should focus special requirements of this population.
authors.affiliation: Nutrology Residency Program, HC, FMUSP. biasobral@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Maria Beatriz
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Sobral-Oliveira
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Faintuch
authors.forename: Dulce Reis
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Guarita
authors.forename: Claudia P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Flair J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Carrilho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals / Q000097:blood; D009752:Nutritional Status; D019512:Pancreatitis, Alcoholic / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014815:Vitamins / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D008903:Minerals; D014815:Vitamins; D002097:C-Reactive Protein