Association between alcohol consumption patterns and metabolic syndrome

AimsExamine associations between self-reported alcohol consumption patterns and metabolic syndrome.Materials and methodsSample (N = 7432) included adult (≥20 years) participants in the 1999–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.ResultsAbove moderate alcohol consumption (AMAC) was negatively associated with waist circumference among those in the 20–29, 40–49, and 70–79 age groups (β = −6.21, β = −8.34, and β = −6.60, respectively) and moderate alcohol consumption (MAC) was negatively associated with waist circumference among those in the 30–39, 40–49, and 70–79 age groups (β = −4.60, β = −5.69, and β = −2.88, respectively). AMAC was negatively associated with triglycerides among those in the 70–79 and 80+ age groups (β = −23.62 and β = −34.18, respectively) and positively associated with HDL-C levels in all groups (β range 8.96–18.25). MAC was positively associated with HDL-C in the age groups spanning 20–69 years (β range 3.05–5.34) and those over 80 (β = 5.26). AMAC and MAC were negatively associated with fasting glucose levels in the 20–29 and 70–79 age groups (β = −3.38 and −15.61, respectively). MAC was negatively associated with fasting glucose levels among those 70–79 and those over 80 years of age (β = −7.06 and β = −5.00, respectively).ConclusionMAC and AMAC may favorably impact metabolic health.