Alcohol Consumption and Ectopic Fat

Researchers are presenting new evidence that excessive alcohol consumption increases fat deposits in the heart and other parts of the body. The study highlights the high cardiovascular risk associated with excessive alcohol consumption, they said.

The observational study used data from more than 6,000 participants in the NHLBI Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). The researchers analyzed alcohol consumption patterns in this racially and ethnically diverse group, including light, moderate, and heavy drinking, as well as lifetime abstention. They also analyzed fat distribution in various parts of the body using CT scan data and compared it with alcohol consumption patterns. 

The researchers found that heavy alcohol consumption was associated with increased ectopic fat , which refers to fat around organs such as the heart, liver, and intestines. In contrast, the lowest levels of ectopic fat were seen in people who reported light to moderate alcohol consumption, they said.

"These findings further solidify the relationship between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular risk and shed light on specific subclinical diseases associated with excessive alcohol consumption," said Cashell Jaquish, Ph.D., genetic epidemiologist and NHLBI program officer. who works with Estudio MESA. "Additional studies are needed to further clarify the role of ectopic fat distribution in the relationship between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular disease," he said.

The study, funded by the NHLBI, appeared in the Journal of the American Heart Association .

Summary

Association Between Alcohol Consumption and Ectopic Fat in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Background

The relationship between alcohol consumption and ectopic fat distribution, both known factors of cardiovascular disease, has not been sufficiently studied. Therefore, we aimed to examine the association between alcohol consumption and ectopic adiposity in adults at risk for cardiovascular disease.

Methods and results

In this cross-sectional analysis, we categorized alcohol intake among MESA (Multi-Ethnic Atherosclerosis Study) participants as follows (drinks/day): <1 (light drink), 1 to 2 (moderate drink), >2 (light drink). abundant), previous alcohol consumption and lifelong abstention. Binge drinking was defined as consuming ≥5 drinks on 1 occasion during the past month.

Visceral, subcutaneous, and intermuscular fat area, pericardial fat volume, and liver fat attenuation were measured by non-contrast computed tomography. Using multivariable linear regression, we examined associations between alcohol consumption categories and log-transformed natural fat in ectopic deposits.

6,756 MESA participants (62.1 ± 10.2 years; 47.2% women) were included , of whom 6,734 and 1,934 underwent chest CT (pericardial and liver fat) and abdominal CT (pericardial and hepatic fat). subcutaneous, intermuscular and visceral), respectively.

In adjusted analysis, heavy alcohol consumption, relative to lifetime abstention, was associated with greater pericardial (relative percentage difference) 15.1 [95% CI, 7.1–27.7]. , hepatic 3.4 [95% CI, 0.1–6.8], visceral 2.5 [95% CI, -10.4 to 17.2], and intermuscular 5.2 [95% CI, -6 .6 to 18.4] fat but less subcutaneous fat -3.5 [95% CI, -15.5 to 10.2]).

Associations between alcohol consumption and ectopic adiposity showed a J-shaped pattern. Heavy alcohol consumption, compared with light to moderate consumption, was also associated with greater ectopic fat.

Conclusions

Alcohol consumption had a J-shaped association with ectopic adiposity. Both excessive alcohol consumption and binge drinking were associated with greater ectopic fat.