Dose-response relationships between drinking and serum tests in Japanese men aged 40-59 years

Alcohol intake per Japanese adult has been increasing year by year. To show biological effects Of drinking, the dose-response relationships between al cohol use and serum indices were analyzed in 5919 Japanese men aged 40-59 y ears. The subjects were classified into nine groups: a nondrinking (ND, n = 1827) group and eight drinking (1D-8D) groups, by self-reported drinking h abit. The 1D (the lightest drinking, n = 699), 5D (n = 942), and 8D (the he aviest drinking, n = 46) groups consumed alcohol less than 30 g per week, 2 5-30 g alcohol per day, and 100 g alcohol per day or more, respectively. Te n serum indices, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, total/HD L cholesterol ratio, LDL cholesterol, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, aspart ate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, glucose, and uric acid, wer e used. The dose-response analysis was statistically controlled for age, bo dy mass index, smoking, and habitual exercise, and showed that drinking, ev en a small amount of alcohol, always had both beneficial and adverse effect s on humans. However, alcohol less than 30 g per day may be tolerable for m iddle-aged Japanese men, because it improved serum lipids profile but did n ot induce apparent liver cell damage, hyperglycemia, or hyperuricemia. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.