334 Am J Clin Nutr 2003;78:334–8. Printed in USA. © 2003 American Society for Clinical Nutrition Relation between homocysteine concentrations and the consumption of different types of alcoholic beverages: the French Supplementation

Background: Previous studies on the effects of alcohol consump-tion on total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations showed contradictory results. The conflicting results may derive in part from confounding by the type of alcoholic beverage consumed. Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate in a pre-dominantly wine-drinking French population whether the relation between alcohol consumption and homocysteine concentrations is dependent on the type of alcoholic beverage consumed. Design: In 1996, a cross-sectional study measuring tHcy and red blood cell folate concentrations was conducted in 1196 middle-aged women and men from the French Supplementation with Antioxidant Vitamins and Minerals Study. Intakes of alcohol, energy, coffee, and B vitamins were assessed by 6 separate 24-h dietary records from the previous year. Results: tHcy concentrations were positively associated with wine intake (P = 0.01) in the women and with beer intake in the men (P = 0.002). No association with the consumption of spirits was observed. The association between beer consumption and tHcy concentrations in the men was modified by the consumption of wine; the association was positive in wine drinkers, whereas an inverse trend was seen in those who drank no wine. Conclusion: Wine consumption may increase tHcy concentra-tions, whereas beer consumption seems to have no effect (or even an inverse effect) on tHcy. Am J Clin Nutr 2003;78:334–8. KEY WORDS Alcohol consumption, beer, folate, homocysteine, win