Alcohol consumption and the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in the US - A cross-sectional analysis of data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

OBJECTIVE - The aim of this study was to examine the relations of alcohol consumption to the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its components in the U.S. population. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - We performed a cross-sectional analysis on data from 8,125 participants from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey who were evaluated for each component of the metabolic syndrome, using the National Cholesterol Education Program criteria, fasting insulin, and alcohol consumption. Current alcohol consumption was defined as greater than or equal to 1 alcoholic drink per month. RESULTS - After adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, tobacco use, physical activity, and diet, subjects who consumed 1-19 and greater than or equal to20 drinks of alcohol per month had odds ratios (ORs) for the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome of 0.65 and 0.34, respectively (P < 0.05 for all), compared with current nondrinkers. These findings were particularly noteworthy for beer and wine drinkers. The association of greater than or equal to20 alcoholic drinks per month with the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was consistent across ethnicities but was most striking in white men and women (ORs 0.35 and 0.22, respectively; P < 0.05). Alcohol consumption was significantly and inversely associated with the prevalence of the following three components of the metabolic syndrome: low serum HDL cholesterol, elevated serum triglycerides, high waist circumference, as well as hyperinsulinemia (P < 0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS - Mild to moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a lower prevalence of the metabolic syndrome, with a favorable influence on lipids, waist circumference, and fasting insulin. This association was strongest among whites and among beer and wine drinkers.