Polyphenol-Rich and Alcoholic Beverages and Metabolic Status in Adults Living in Sicily, Southern Italy

Abstract: Polyphenol-rich beverage consumption is not univocally accepted as a risk modulatorfor cardio-metabolic risk factors, despite mechanistic and epidemiological evidence suggestingotherwise. The aim of this study was to assess whether an association between polyphenol-richbeverage consumption and metabolic status could be observed in a Mediterranean cohort withrelatively low intake of tea, coffee, red and white wine, beer, and fresh citrus juice. Demographic anddietary characteristics of 2044 adults living in southern Italy were analyzed. Multivariate logisticregression analyses were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) ofthe association between polyphenol-rich and alcoholic beverage consumption and metabolic statusadjusted for potential confounding factors. Specific polyphenol-rich beverages were associated,to a various extent, with metabolic outcomes. Individuals with a higher total polyphenol-richbeverages had higher polyphenols intake and were less likely to have hypertension, type-2 diabetes,and dyslipidemia (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.44–0.73; OR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.26–0.66; and OR = 0.41,95% CI: 0.29–0.57, respectively). However, when adjusted for potential confounding factors, only theassociation with hypertension remained significant (OR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.50–0.94). Current scientificevidence suggests that such beverages may play a role on cardio-metabolic risk factors, especiallywhen consumed within the context of a dietary pattern characterized by an intake of a plurality ofthem. However, these associations might be mediated by an overall healthier lifestyle.