Is moderate beer consumption associated with poor dietary and biochemical parameters of nutritional status in adults? A systematic review of observational and interventional studies with meta-analysis

Abstract

The impact of heavy alcohol consumption on health and nutritional status is well-documented, but the effects of moderate beer consumption remain less well understood. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined evidence on moderate beer consumption and dietary and biochemical parameters of nutritional status. It focused specifically on analysing differences between moderate beer consumers and abstainers. A comprehensive search was conducted across four electronic databases (PubMed, SciELO, Web of Science, and SCOPUS) for studies published in English or Spanish from January 2000 to May 2024. Eligible studies included those examining associations between moderate beer consumption and dietary or biochemical parameters related to nutritional status in healthy adults aged 18 years or older. The systematic review included 16 reports (15 independent samples; nine observational and seven interventional), of which five were eligible for meta-analysis. In most studies, the criteria used to classify individuals as moderate consumers exceeded current recommended guidelines. While some minor differences in dietary parameters were noted, overall diet quality appeared broadly similar between moderate beer drinkers and abstainers, according to the results of the meta-analysis. In both groups, diet quality could be improved, as it deviates from the theoretical ideal. Regarding biochemical parameters of nutritional status, our systematic review found insufficient evidence to draw firm conclusions, as many parameters were assessed in single studies only, making a meta-analysis unfeasible. The relationship between moderate beer consumption and nutritional status parameters remains unclear due to limited and inconsistent evidence. Based on the available data, moderate beer consumption may not be associated with poorer overall diet quality compared to abstention. Nevertheless, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to the substantial heterogeneity and methodological limitations of the included studies. Further research is required to achieve a more comprehensive understanding.