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Alcohol Consumption and Human Health

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Public Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 August 2025 | Viewed by 7699

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Ricardas Radisauskas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania
Interests: alcohol and drug abuse; nutrition and health; population- and cohort-based studies; non-communicable disease epidemiology; metabolic disease epidemiology; cardiovascular disease risk factors; primary and secondary prevention; environmental pollution and health; children’s environment and health; psychosocial factors of the work environment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Humans have consumed alcoholic beverages for many years, and their health effects can be negative, depending on a variety of factors, including the amount and frequency of consumption, individual health conditions, and overall lifestyle. The effects of alcohol consumption on human health and the food chain are complex and multifaceted. Scientific research supports that continuous and excessive alcohol consumption can disrupt the absorption of essential nutrients. The excessive consumption of alcohol can cause metabolic health problems due to damage to the enzyme systems, due to which the body cannot efficiently process the nutrients that enter it. Alcohol can interfere with the absorption of vitamins such as B vitamins and minerals such as magnesium and zinc, which can cause various health problems such as anemia and neuropathy, and weaken the body’s immune function, which can lead to the development of both acute and chronic diseases. Alcohol is also a high-calorie food ingredient and can contribute to weight gain, especially when consumed in large amounts or with high-calorie foods. Drinking alcohol can increase one’s appetite and change one’s eating habits, often leading to more junk food.

Understanding the challenges of alcohol consumption in a public health context is critical to making science-based decisions about the role of alcohol consumption in human health. According to the latest WHO recommendations (2023) on alcohol consumption, no level of alcohol consumption is safe for human health.

Prof. Ricardas Radisauskas
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • alcohol consumption
  • health effects
  • population-based studies
  • cohort-based studies
  • alcohol–nutrient interactions
  • diet quality
  • energy consumption
  • eating habits
  • metabolic disorders
  • adults
  • older adults
  • sex/gender
  • epidemiology
  • risk factors
  • prevention
  • policy

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 2729 KiB  
Article
Impact of Alcohol Intake on Body Composition in Patients with Steatotic Liver Disease
by Masahiro Matsui, Akira Fukuda, Saori Onishi, Kosuke Ushiro, Tomohiro Nishikawa, Akira Asai, Soo Ki Kim and Hiroki Nishikawa
Nutrients 2025, 17(6), 1092; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17061092 - 20 Mar 2025
Viewed by 302
Abstract
Objectives: To examine the effect of alcohol intake on body composition in patients with steatotic liver disease (SLD). Methods: In men, group A (n = 819) was defined as non-drinkers, group B (n = 1147) as <30 g of ethanol equivalent per [...] Read more.
Objectives: To examine the effect of alcohol intake on body composition in patients with steatotic liver disease (SLD). Methods: In men, group A (n = 819) was defined as non-drinkers, group B (n = 1147) as <30 g of ethanol equivalent per day, group C (n = 125) as between 30 and 60 g/day, and group D (n = 344) as >60 g/day. In women, group A (n = 749) was defined as non-drinkers, group B (n = 354) as <20 g/day, group C (n = 36) as between 20 and 50 g/day, and group D (n = 68) as >50 g/day. The fat-free (FF) index and fat (F) index were defined as FF mass and F mass divided by height squared (kg/m2). Results: The average FF index and F index in groups A, B, C, and D in men were 19.01, 19.29, 18.50, and 18.55 kg/m2 (overall p < 0.0001), and 6.28, 6.71, 5.66, and 6.03 kg/m2 (overall p < 0.0001). The average FF index and F index in groups A, B, C, and D in women were 16.03, 15.96, 15.62, and 15.07 kg/m2 (overall p < 0.0001), and 9.89, 9.02, 9.32, and 7.53 kg/m2 (overall p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Heavy drinking has a negative effect on skeletal muscle and fat, but complete abstinence from alcohol may not be necessary in SLD patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alcohol Consumption and Human Health)
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11 pages, 2492 KiB  
Article
Impact of Alcohol Intake on Skeletal Muscle: A Large Cross-Sectional Analysis in Japanese Adults
by Masahiro Matsui, Akira Fukuda, Saori Onishi, Kosuke Ushiro, Tomohiro Nishikawa, Akira Asai, Soo Ki Kim and Hiroki Nishikawa
Nutrients 2025, 17(5), 894; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17050894 - 3 Mar 2025
Viewed by 831
Abstract
Aims: To clarify the impact of alcohol intake on skeletal muscle mass (SMM) using data from Japanese health checkup recipients (8405 males and 11,509 females). The fat-free (FF) index was regarded as the FF mass divided by height squared (kg/m2). Methods: [...] Read more.
Aims: To clarify the impact of alcohol intake on skeletal muscle mass (SMM) using data from Japanese health checkup recipients (8405 males and 11,509 females). The fat-free (FF) index was regarded as the FF mass divided by height squared (kg/m2). Methods: The subjects were classified into four groups (type A (never drinker), B (chance or mild drinker), C (moderate drinker), and D (severe drinker)) according to the amount of alcohol consumed. Results: The average age in males and females was 52.2 and 50.1 years, respectively (p < 0.0001). The average FF index in males and females was 18.5 and 15.1 kg/m2, respectively (p < 0.0001). The proportion of subjects of type A, B, C, and D was 36.5%, 44.2%, 5.9%, and 13.4%, respectively, in males, and 59.8%, 31.3%, 3.7%, and 5.1%, respectively, in females (p < 0.0001). The average FF index in type A, B, C, and D males was 18.43, 18.62, 18.12, and 18.16 kg/m2, respectively (overall p < 0.0001). The average FF index in type A, B, C, and D females was 15.17, 15.14, 15.15, and 14.78 kg/m2, respectively (overall p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Habitual heavy drinking has a negative effect on SMM. However, from the standpoint of maintaining SMM, it is not necessary to completely abstain from alcohol. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alcohol Consumption and Human Health)
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11 pages, 240 KiB  
Article
Obesity Risk Was Associated with Alcohol Intake and Sleep Duration Among Korean Men: The 2016–2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
by Sang Young Kim and Hyun Ja Kim
Nutrients 2024, 16(22), 3950; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16223950 - 19 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1015
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Excessive alcohol drinking and short sleep duration could be problematic in terms of obesity. This research investigated the risk of obesity according to alcohol consumption and sleep duration, using data from the 2016–2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Methods: [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Excessive alcohol drinking and short sleep duration could be problematic in terms of obesity. This research investigated the risk of obesity according to alcohol consumption and sleep duration, using data from the 2016–2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Methods: The health behavior survey on alcohol intake and sleep duration was conducted via self-reporting by participants. Height and weight were measured to calculate the body mass index (BMI), which was then used to assess obesity, defined as a BMI of ≥25 kg/m2. Among a total of 39,738 participants from the 2016–2020 KNHANES, this study finally included 8271 Korean men aged ≥30 years, with 3467 classified as obese and 4804 as controls. Results: Obesity risk was significantly increased with a short sleep duration of <7 h (vs. 7–<9 h, odds ratio [OR] = 1.28, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.15–1.43) or frequency of binge drinking of ≥1 time/week (vs. never, OR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.17–1.65). Moreover, the risk of obesity was further increased to 1.52 (95% CI = 1.17–1.97) for those with both short sleep duration and frequent binge drinking. Conclusions: The risk of obesity was elevated for frequent binge alcohol drinking with short sleep duration in Korean men. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alcohol Consumption and Human Health)
12 pages, 253 KiB  
Article
Differences in Associations of Three Types of Alcoholic Beverages with Age-Related Cognitive Decline in Men
by Marie Stjerne Grønkjær, Trine Flensborg-Madsen, Merete Osler, Holger Jelling Sørensen, Ulrik Becker and Erik Lykke Mortensen
Nutrients 2024, 16(21), 3714; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16213714 - 30 Oct 2024
Viewed by 989
Abstract
Objectives: To investigate the influence of wine, beer, and spirits consumption, respectively, on non-pathological, age-related cognitive decline from young adulthood to late midlife in a large follow-up study of Danish men. Methods: The study includes 2456 middle-aged Danish men from the Lifestyle and [...] Read more.
Objectives: To investigate the influence of wine, beer, and spirits consumption, respectively, on non-pathological, age-related cognitive decline from young adulthood to late midlife in a large follow-up study of Danish men. Methods: The study includes 2456 middle-aged Danish men from the Lifestyle and Cognition Follow-up study 2015, with information on adult-life consumption (from age 26) of wine, beer, and spirits self-reported in late midlife and age-related cognitive decline assessed using the same validated intelligence test administered in young adulthood and late midlife. Associations were adjusted for consumption of other alcoholic beverages, year of birth, age at follow-up, retest interval, education, young adulthood intelligence, and personality. Results: Most of the men had wine (48%) or beer (42%) as their preferred beverage type. For all three alcoholic beverages, consumption of more than 14 units weekly was associated with a greater decline in unadjusted analyses, but this trend was only significant for wine. In contrast, adjusted models showed that moderate wine and spirits consumption was associated with less decline than abstention for these alcohol types (p = 0.03 for 8–14 units/week of wine and p = 0.03 for 1–7 units/week of spirits). Statistical tests suggested a difference between the estimated effects of consumption of 8–14 units/week of wine and beer on cognitive decline. Conclusions: While patterns of associations were similar across beverages, moderate wine and spirits consumption may mitigate cognitive decline, in contrast with beer. However, the results should be interpreted with caution due to inherent differences between men with different alcoholic beverage preferences. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alcohol Consumption and Human Health)
16 pages, 9001 KiB  
Article
Consumption of Sylimarin, Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Sodium Salt and Myricetin: Effects on Alcohol Levels and Markers of Oxidative Stress—A Pilot Study
by Gerardo Bosco, Alessandra Vezzoli, Andrea Brizzolari, Matteo Paganini, Tommaso Antonio Giacon, Fabio Savini, Maristella Gussoni, Michela Montorsi, Cinzia Dellanoce and Simona Mrakic-Sposta
Nutrients 2024, 16(17), 2965; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16172965 - 3 Sep 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2157
Abstract
Background: Alcohol abuse is one of the most common causes of mortality worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a treatment in reducing circulating ethanol and oxidative stress biomarkers. Methods: Twenty wine-drinking subjects were investigated in a randomized controlled, single-blind trial [...] Read more.
Background: Alcohol abuse is one of the most common causes of mortality worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a treatment in reducing circulating ethanol and oxidative stress biomarkers. Methods: Twenty wine-drinking subjects were investigated in a randomized controlled, single-blind trial (ClinicalTrials.gov. Identifier: NCT06548503; Ethical Committee of the University of Padova (HEC-DSB/12-2023) to evaluate the effect of the intake of a product containing silymarin, pyrroloquinoline quinone sodium salt, and myricetin (referred to as Si.Pi.Mi. for this project) on blood alcohol, ethyl glucuronide (EtG: marker for alcohol consumption) and markers of oxidative stress levels (Reactive Oxygen Species—ROS, Total Antioxidant Capacity—TAC, CoQ10, thiols redox status, 8-isoprostane, NO metabolites, neopterin, and uric acid). The effects of the treatment versus placebo were evaluated acutely and after 1 week of supplementation in blood and/or saliva and urine samples. Results: Si.Pi.Mi intake reduced circulating ethanol after 120 min (−33%). Changes in oxidative stress biomarkers, particularly a TAC (range +9–12%) increase and an 8-isoprostane (marker of lipidic peroxidation) decrease (range −22–27%), were observed too. Conclusion: After the administration of Si.Pi.Mi, the data seemed to suggest a better alcohol metabolism and oxidative balance in response to wine intake. Further verification is requested. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alcohol Consumption and Human Health)
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Review

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17 pages, 451 KiB  
Review
Comprehensive Management of Drunkorexia: A Scoping Review of Influencing Factors and Opportunities for Intervention
by Naroa Pérez-Ortiz, Elena Andrade-Gómez, Javier Fagundo-Rivera and Pablo Fernández-León
Nutrients 2024, 16(22), 3894; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16223894 (registering DOI) - 15 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1591
Abstract
Background and objectives: Drunkorexia is a novel alcohol-related disorder prevalent among adolescents and young adults. Extensive research on the causes and their relationship is lacking. Identifying these aspects could improve early detection and management by healthcare professionals. The aim of this review was [...] Read more.
Background and objectives: Drunkorexia is a novel alcohol-related disorder prevalent among adolescents and young adults. Extensive research on the causes and their relationship is lacking. Identifying these aspects could improve early detection and management by healthcare professionals. The aim of this review was to identify the influencing factors of drunkorexia in adolescents and young adults, as well as the main opportunities for action by health professionals. Methods: A scoping review was conducted in June and July 2024 using three databases (Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science). A search and review protocol were established and registered in PROSPERO. The research questions were formulated in Patient, Concept, Context (PCC) formats for an adequate literature review. Original articles from January 2008 to July 2024 were included. Reviews, meta-analyses, and doctoral theses or academic texts were excluded. In the screening phase, a methodological assessment was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute’s (JBI) critical appraisal tools to support study eligibility. Depending on the study design, different checklists were used, and cross-sectional studies that received scores of 4/8 or higher, quasi-experimental designs that obtained 5/9 or higher, and qualitative research that obtained 5/10 or higher were accepted. Results: A total of 1502 studies were initially found. After applying the inclusion/exclusion criteria, 20 studies were selected. Complications of emotion regulation, both positive and negative metacognitive beliefs, inability to effectively manage stress and anxiety, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, self-discipline and self-control, or differences in social expectations are predisposing factors for drunkorexia. The management of malnutrition and dehydration is an opportunity for clinical professionals to address this problem. In addition, mental health issues can provide another opportunity to manage heavy alcohol consumption. Conclusions: Drunkorexia must be recognized as a new disease to be addressed from a multidisciplinary perspective. In this way, increasing research on this trend would support prevention and intervention strategies. The use of digital platforms is essential for raising social awareness of this negative habit. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alcohol Consumption and Human Health)
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