American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 64, 108-114, Copyright © 1996 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc

ORIGINAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

Energy value of moderate alcohol consumption by humans

WV Rumpler, DG Rhodes, DJ Baer, JM Conway and JL Seale
Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Diet and Human Performance Laboratory, US Department of Agriculture, MD 20705, USA. rumpler@bhnrc.ursusda.gov

We investigated the effects of an equal-energetic substitution of ethanol for dietary carbohydrate in high-and low-fat diets on energy expenditure and body composition. During the controlled feeding study, subjects maintained their weights and consumed only food and drink provided by the US Department of Agriculture Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center's Diet Study Facility. Subjects (16 men and 32 women) were divided equally into two groups and consumed either a high-or low- fat diet for 16 wk. The feeding period was divided into two 8-wk periods during which either ethanol or carbohydrate was added to the diet (5% of total daily energy intake) in a crossover design. The metabolizable energy content of the diets (with supplements) was determined for all subjects through measurement of total food intake and fecal and urinary losses for 7 d during both 8-wk periods. Energy expenditure, measured for 24 h in a room calorimeter at the end of each 8-wk period, was the same for both periods. Metabolizable energy intake and changes in total-body energy content were used to calculate the total amount of energy expended by each subject for 7 wk during each 8- wk period. Total energy expenditure for 7 wk was the same when subjects consumed either ethanol or carbohydrate. These data clearly show that on an energy basis ethanol and carbohydrate are utilized in the diet with the same efficiency. These data are consistent with the efficiency of use of alcohol for maintenance of metabolizable energy being the same as that for carbohydrate.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. A. Breslow and B. A. Smothers Drinking Patterns and Body Mass Index in Never Smokers: National Health Interview Survey, 1997-2001 Am. J. Epidemiol., February 15, 2005; 161(4): 368 - 376. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Raben, L. Agerholm-Larsen, A. Flint, J. J Holst, and A. Astrup Meals with similar energy densities but rich in protein, fat, carbohydrate, or alcohol have different effects on energy expenditure and substrate metabolism but not on appetite and energy intake Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2003; 77(1): 91 - 100. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. S. van der Gaag, A. van Tol, S. H. F. Vermunt, L. M. Scheek, G. Schaafsma, and H. F. J. Hendriks Alcohol consumption stimulates early steps in reverse cholesterol transport J. Lipid Res., December 1, 2001; 42(12): 2077 - 2083. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Q Siler, R. A Neese, and M. K Hellerstein De novo lipogenesis, lipid kinetics, and whole-body lipid balances in humans after acute alcohol consumption Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, November 1, 1999; 70(5): 928 - 936. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. V. Rumpler, B. A. Clevidence, R. A. Muesing, and D. G. Rhodes Changes in Women's Plasma Lipid and Lipoprotein Concentrations Due to Moderate Consumption of Alcohol Are Affected by Dietary Fat Level J. Nutr., September 1, 1999; 129(9): 1713 - 1717. [Abstract] [Full Text]