Search resultsEffects of alcohol on food and energy intake in human subjects: Evidence for passive and active over-consumption of energy
Title
Effects of alcohol on food and energy intake in human subjects: Evidence for passive and active over-consumption of energy
Publication type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2004
Authors
Journal
British Journal of Nutrition
Volume
92
Issue
SUPPL. 1
Pagination
S31 - S34
Date published
2004
ISBN
00071145 (ISSN)
Keywords
alcohol, alcohol consumption, Alcohol Drinking, alcohol metabolism, appetite, Appetite Regulation, article, body mass, caloric intake, correlation analysis, Eating, energy expenditure, Energy Intake, Energy Metabolism, Ethanol, evidence based medicine, feeding behavior, food intake, human, Humans, Hunger, macronutrient, medical research, obesity, overnutrition, palatability, Risk Factors, Satiety, time
Abstract
The effects of alcohol on food and energy intake in human subjects have been the subject of a number of controlled studies recently. Unlike the evidence for other macronutrients, there is minimal evidence for any compensatory reduction in food intake in response to energy ingested as alcohol. In contrast, all studies testing intake within 1 h of preload ingestion report a higher intake of food following alcohol relative to energy-matched controls, although this short-term stimulatory effect is not evident if the test meal is delayed beyond 1 h. This time-course suggests that short-term stimulation of appetite may be mediated by the pharmacological action of alcohol on the appetite control system, either through enhanced orosensory reward or impaired satiety. In the long term, energy ingested as alcohol is additive to energy from other sources, suggesting that moderate alcohol consumption results in long-term passive over-consumption alongside short-term active over-consumption of energy through appetite stimulation. Despite the consistency of enhanced energy intake after moderate alcohol, evidence of an association between alcohol in the diet and obesity remains contentious, although the most recent results suggest that alcohol intake correlates with BMI. Future research needs to address this issue and clarify the mechanisms underlying appetite stimulation by alcohol.