1: Biofactors. 2004;22(1-4):303-10. Related Articles, Links
Beer and health: Preventive effects of beer components on
lifestyle-related diseases.
Kondo K.
Research and Development Department, Kirin Brewery Company, Limited,
10-1, Shinkawa 2-Chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyou, 104-8288, Japan. Tel.: +81 3
5541 5337; Fax: +81 3 5541 5366; E-mail: [email hidden].
It has been demonstrated that the light-to-moderate consumption of
alcoholic beverages is associated with significant reductions in
all-cause and particularly cardiovascular mortality. While the inverse
association between red-wine consumption and cardiovascular risk is
globally recognized as the French paradox, many epidemiological studies
have concluded that beer and red wine are equally beneficial. Moderate
alcohol intake improves lipoprotein metabolism and lowers
cardiovascular mortality risk. The question now is whether additional
health benefits associated with the non-alcohol components in beer may
be expected. This article summarizes the results of the latest studies
on the health benefits of beer while referring to our recent results,
which demonstrate the preventive effects of beer and its components on
lifestyle-related diseases. A series of studies using animal models
have shown that beer may prevent carcinogenesis and osteoporosis; beer
provides plasma with significant protection from oxidative stress; and
isohumulones, the bitter substances derived from hops, may prevent and
improve obesity and type-2 diabetes, improve lipid metabolism, and
suppress atherosclerosis. Further studies are needed to clarify the
components in addition to isohumulones that are responsible for these
beneficial effects of beer, and the underlying mechanisms must be
addressed.
PMID: 15630301 [PubMed - in process]
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