EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL INTAKE ON RESTING ENERGY-EXPENDITURE IN YOUNG-WOMEN SOCIAL DRINKERS

This investigation evaluated the effects of alcohol consumption, contr olled for the energy in alcohol and chronic effects of smoking, on res ting energy expenditure (REE) in college-aged social drinkers. Sixteen women who both smoked and drank alcohol were administered, on 4 separ ate days in a counterbalanced order, 1) cigarettes alone, 2) alcohol a lone, 3) alcohol plus cigarettes, or 4) cigarettes with an energetic c ontrol. Each session consisted of a 25-min REE baseline, treatment in a randomly assigned order, and a 105-min assessment of REE. Analyses i ndicated that alcohol significantly (P < 0.05) increased REE for up to 95 min after ingestion [increases of 29.6-68.4 kJ (124-287 kcal)/24 h ], increases that could not be accounted for by the energy content of the drink alone. Smoking and alcohol together also raised REE above ba seline but not more than alcohol alone. It was concluded that alcohol intake raises REE, potentially explaining why alcohol interferes with energy utilization. Potential implications for alcohol intake, nutriti on, and weight loss are presented.