INFLUENCE OF MODERATE DAILY WINE CONSUMPTION ON BODY-WEIGHT REGULATION AND METABOLISM IN HEALTHY FREE-LIVING MALES

Objective: Although previous studies have clearly demonstrated that en ergy from alcohol may not be efficiently utilized to maintain body wei ght when it comprises 20% or more of the daily caloric intake, there i s considerable debate regarding the influence of moderate alcohol cons umption (less than or equal to 5% of the total daily caloric intake) u pon metabolism, substrate utilization and body weight regulation. Cons equently, the objectives of this study were to determine whether moder ate alcohol consumption could influence body weight via changes in sub strate utilization, oxygen consumption or alterations in dietary macro nutrient content. Methods: Fourteen male subjects (mean age=32.1 years ) participated in a 12-week, free-living, crossover trial in which the y either drank red wine (270 ml; 13% v/v ethanol) daily for 6 weeks an d then abstained for the next 6 weeks or vice-versa. Results: Whether wine was imbibed or not, no significant differences (p>0.05) were demo nstrated for any of the following variables: body weight, body fat per centage, skinfold thickness, resting metabolic rate, respiratory quoti ent, caloric intake, dietary macronutrient content, or fasting insulin or glucose concentrations. Conclusions: In free-living subjects over a 6-week period, the addition of two glasses of red wine to the evenin g meal does not appear to influence any measured variable which may ad versely affect body weight or promote the development of obesity durin g this time period.