Influence of moderate daily wine consumption on body weight regulation and metabolism in healthy free-living males.

Abstract

Although previous studies have clearly demonstrated that energy from alcohol may not be efficiently utilized to maintain body weight when it comprises 20% or more of the daily caloric intake, there is considerable debate regarding the influence of moderate alcohol consumption (< or = 5% of the total daily caloric intake) upon metabolism, substrate utilization and body weight regulation. Consequently, the objectives of this study were to determine whether moderate alcohol consumption could influence body weight via changes in substrate utilization, oxygen consumption or alterations in dietary macronutrient content.Fourteen male subjects (mean age = 32.1 years) participated in a 12-week, free-living, crossover trial in which they either drank red wine (270 ml; 13% v/v ethanol) daily for 6 weeks and then abstained for the next 6 weeks or vice-versa.Whether wine was imbibed or not, no significant differences (p > 0.05) were demonstrated for any of the following variables: body weight, body fat percentage, skinfold thickness, resting metabolic rate, respiratory quotient, caloric intake, dietary macronutrient content, or fasting insulin or glucose concentrations.In free-living subjects over a 6-week period, the addition of two glasses of red wine to the evening meal does not appear to influence any measured variable which may adversely affect body weight or promote the development of obesity during this time period.