The question about differences in dietary patterns associated with beer, wine, and spirits is still unresolved. We used diet data from 423 middle-aged males of the STANISLAS Study. Using adjusted values for covariates, we observed a negative significant association between increasing alcohol intakes and the consumption of milk, yogurt, and fresh/uncured cheese, sugar and confectionery, vegetables and fruits, and a significant positive relationship with cheese, meat and organs, pork-butcher's meat, and potatoes. In addition, the first dietary pattern identified by factor analysis (characterized a more prudent diet) was inversely related to alcohol intakes. Conversely, when analyzing daily consumption of specific food groups and diet patterns according to beverage preference (wine, beer, and spirits), no significant difference was observed. In conclusion, in this sample of middle-aged French males, there was a linear trend between increasing alcohol intakes and worsening of quality of diet, while no difference was observed according to beverage preference. 1. Introduction Alcohol is linked to an extensively documented J-shaped dose-effect curve, with light to moderate consumption reducing cardiovascular and overall mortality, whereas excessive drinking has the opposite effect [1–3]. Moreover, drinking pattern (heavy episodic or binge drinking versus a steady pattern of consumption [4, 5]), type of alcoholic beverage (wine, beer, spirits), and various related lifestyle and sociocultural factors may account for differences in health benefits or adverse effects associated with alcohol drinking. In the field of nutrition, prior research supports that increasing levels of alcohol consumption are associated with poorer dietary patterns [6–9]. Generally, increased alcohol intake was associated with higher consumption of potatoes and animal products such as meat, meat products, and pork-butcher's meat and low consumption of dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and fresh/uncured cheese, fruits and vegetables, and pastries and cookies. In addition, variation in diet associated with the preferred drink may explain why a type of alcoholic beverage seems to have specific effects on ischemic heart disease mortality. Some studies in Danish or American populations found that wine drinkers tend to have a healthier lifestyle profile (including diet) than beer or spirit drinkers [10–12]. However, in Navarra (Spain) dietary patterns between wine, beer, or spirit drinkers did not significantly differ [13]. Even within the same country, geographical factors could play an
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