Alcohol and the Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Women

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Moderate drinking has been known to be associated with a risk of reduced cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. The metabolic syndrome has been associated with a risk of increased cardiovascular diseases. Because drinking is considered as a risk factor of the metabolic syndrome, this study was performed to examine the association between alcohol drinking and the metabolic syndrome in Korean women. METHODS: The subjects were 262 women who visited the health promotion center of Chungnam National University Hospital for general health check-up. The metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to the definition by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. The abdominal obesity guidelines for waist circumference applied the WHO Asian Pacific Guideline. The subjects were classified into nondrinking, moderate drinking (1 drink) according to their drinking amount per day. The relationship between the components of the metabolic syndrome and drinking state were investigated. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was compared according to the drinking state. RESULTS: The women with moderate drinking showed significantly lower levels of triglyceride than nondrinkers (P<0.05). The women with drinking showed significantly higher levels of HDL cholesterol than nondrinkers (moderate drinkers P<0.05, heavy drinkers P<0.05). Considering nondrinkers as standard, the risk of the metabolic syndrome was significantly low in women with moderate drinking (odds ratio=0.43, 95% confidence interval 0.22~0.84, P=0.013). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggest that moderate drinking is related to a lower rate of the metabolic syndrome in Korean women.