Original Article

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2008) 62, 1178–1186; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602833; published online 4 July 2007

Alcoholic beverage preference and dietary pattern in Spanish university graduates: the SUN cohort study

Guarantor: MA Martínez-González.

Contributors: IM-L, MF-P, JPF and MAM-G were responsible for study design, data collection and analysis and obtaining funding, MAA was responsible for data analysis, drafting the manuscript and study design, FC-T was responsible for literature search and additional data analyses.

M A Alcácera1, I Marques-Lopes1, M Fajó-Pascual1, J Puzo Foncillas1, F Carmona-Torre2 and M A Martínez-González2

  1. 1Faculty of Health Sciences and Sports, University of Saragossa, Spain
  2. 2Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Clínica Universitaria, Faculty of Medicine, University of Navarra, Spain

Correspondence: Dr I Marques-Lopes, Facultad Ciencias de la Salud y del Deporte, Plaza Universidad n° 3, 22002 Huesca, Spain. E-mail: imarques@unizar.es

Received 23 January 2007; Revised 21 May 2007; Accepted 23 May 2007; Published online 4 July 2007.

Top

Abstract

Objective:

 

To describe the association between alcohol beverage preference and dietary habits comparing wine drinkers with other alcoholic beverage drinkers and with nondrinkers in Spanish university graduates.

Subjects:

 

A total of 10 526 men and women, who were recruited using mailed questionnaires, participated in this study.

Methods:

 

A semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire previously validated in Spain was used together with other questionnaires designed to collect lifestyle characteristics.

Results:

 

Wine drinkers reported higher intake of fibre and olive oil, and lower consumption of fat (only men), dairy products, sugared soda drinks and fast food as compared with other alcoholic beverage groups and nondrinkers. Men nondrinkers were more likely to be physically active during their leisure time than wine drinkers. No relevant differences were found in adherence to the Mediterranean food pattern according to alcoholic beverage preference.

Conclusion:

 

This similarity in dietary patterns between wine drinkers and other groups suggests that the positive cardiovascular effects reported for wine should not be attributed to an overall healthier dietary pattern of wine drinkers.

Keywords:

alcoholic beverage, dietary pattern, Mediterranean diet, wine consumption

Extra navigation

.

naturejobs

More science jobs
Post a job for free
ADVERTISEMENT