Alcohol consumption and its relation to visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues in healthy male Koreans.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study is to investigate the association of alcohol with visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) distribution and metabolic syndrome (MetS).


METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional study in 951 healthy male Korean participants who underwent health checkups. We measured the cross-sectional areas of VAT and SAT by computed tomography of the abdomen and performed a study of alcohol consumption based on questionnaire responses and a 24-hour dietary recall assessment. We analyzed the relationship of alcohol consumption with VAT, SAT, and MetS.


RESULTS
Alcohol consumption showed a negative association with SAT (β = -18.76, p = 0.047) but a positive association with VAT (β = 17.70, p = 0.037), independent of other factors. The adjusted odds ratios for MetS for those who consumed <7, 7 to <14, 14 to <28, and ≥28 standard drinks per week were 0.99 (0.59-1.68), 1.49 (0.84-2.63), 1.95 (1.10-3.45), and 1.99 (1.07-3.70), respectively (p for linear trend = 0.042).


CONCLUSIONS
Alcohol consumption is associated with decreased SAT and increased VAT accumulation. Further, alcohol consumption of ≥14 standard drinks is associated with an increased risk of MetS. Light-to-moderate drinking, which has been regarded to lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases, did not show a protective effect on adipose tissue accumulation.
Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Kyae Hyung
KH
Kim
Seung-Won
SW
Oh
Hyuktae
H
Kwon
Jin-Ho
JH
Park
Hochun
H
Choi
BeLong
B
Cho
D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000886:Anthropometry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015930:Diet Records; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D012016:Reference Values; D012306:Risk; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed