Association between alcoholic beverage consumption and micronutrient intake in type 2 diabetes outpatients: A cross-sectional analysis by sex and age (JDDM 81)

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Alcohol consumption has been associated with poorer diet quality, particularly among heavy drinkers. However, little is known about how these associations differ by age and sex or how alcohol relates to overall dietary patterns. We examined the associations between alcoholic beverage consumption and micronutrient and food group intake across age and sex, and its association with overall dietary patterns in outpatients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1565 outpatients with type 2 diabetes from a nationwide registry of clinics (2014-2019). Alcohol intake was assessed via a self-reported FFQ. Participants (aged 30-89 years; 63.1 % male) were divided into younger (≤65 years) and older (>65 years) men and women. RESULTS: In younger men, higher alcoholic beverage intake was linked to higher smoking rates and lower intake of all assessed micronutrients except iron, with the strongest association observed for potassium (β = -0.299, 95 % CI: -0.510, -0.088), followed by calcium, and vitamins A and C. Older men showed a negative association only with vitamin C (β = -0.030, 95 % CI: -0.054, -0.006). No significant associations were observed for any micronutrients in women. In younger men, alcoholic beverage intake was negatively correlated with milk consumption (r = -0.114, P < 0.001). Principal component analysis revealed that higher alcoholic beverage intake was associated with the savory foods dietary pattern, rich in rice, meat, and seasonings and spices. CONCLUSION: Younger men who consume alcohol may have lower micronutrient intake due to reduced milk consumption and other related behaviors, such as smoking. These findings emphasize the need to improve nutrient intake while addressing lifestyle factors in this population.