Do eating habits differ according to alcohol consumption? Results of a study of the French cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (E3N-EPIC)
E. Kesse et al., Do eating habits differ according to alcohol consumption? Results of a study of the French cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (E3N-EPIC), AM J CLIN N, 74(3), 2001, pp. 322-327
Background: The potential of dietary habits to confound the association bet
ween alcohol consumption and health needs further study.
Objective: We examined whether eating habits differed according to alcohol
consumption in a large cohort of French women.
Design: This was a cross-sectional study of the French cohort of the Europe
an Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (E3N-EPIC). The coho
rt was established in 1990 and includes 100000 women born between 1925 and
1950. Dietary data were obtained between 1993 and 1995 by using self-admini
stered food-frequency questionnaires. About 73000 questionnaires were analy
zed, and women were placed into 7 categories of alcohol consumption.
Results: After adjustment for energy derived from alcohol, increasing alcoh
ol consumption was associated with a higher total energy intake, a higher p
ercentage of energy intake as protein and lipids, and higher intakes of cho
lesterol, fatty acids, retinol, iron, and vitamin E. Conversely, energy pro
vided by carbohydrates decreased with increasing alcohol consumption, as di
d P-carotene intake. Increasing alcohol consumption was associated with hig
her consumption of animal products, cheese, potatoes, oil, bread, and break
fast cereals and with lower consumption of vegetables and dairy products.
Conclusion: In this population of middle-aged, highly educated French women
, marked differences in dietary patterns and nutrient intakes were found ac
cording to alcohol consumption. Part of the detrimental effect of alcohol o
n health may be due to the less healthy dietary habits of drinkers. This po
ints to a confounding role of eating habits and nutrient intakes in the rel
ation between alcohol and health.