Chemosensory Alterations and Impact on Quality of Life in Persistent Alcohol Drinkers

BACKGROUND

Heavy alcohol consumption-associated chemosensory dysfunction is understudied, and early detection can help predict disease-associated comorbidities, especially those related to four quality of life (QOL) domains (physical, psychological, social and environment). We examined self-reports of chemosensory ability of individuals with different alcohol drinking behaviors and their association with changes in QOL domains.

METHODS

Participants (n = 466) were recruited between June 2020 and September 2021 into the NIAAA COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Alcohol study. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to categorize participants without any known COVID-19 infection into three groups (non-drinkers, moderate drinkers and heavy drinkers) based on their Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test consumption scores at four different time points (at enrollment, week 4, week 8 and week 12). Linear mixed models were used to examine chemosensory differences between these groups. The associations between chemosensory abilities and QOL were determined in each group.

RESULTS

We observed significant impairment in self-reported smell ability of heavy drinking individuals compared to non-drinkers. In contrast, taste ability showed marginal impairment between these groups. There were no significant differences in smell and taste abilities between the moderate and non-drinking groups. Heavy drinkers' impairment in smell and taste abilities was significantly associated with deterioration in their physical, psychological, social and environmental QOL.

CONCLUSION

Persistent heavy drinking was associated with lower chemosensory ability. Heavy drinkers' reduced smell and taste function and association with poorer QOL indicate that early assessment of chemosensory changes may be crucial in identifying poorer well-being outcomes in heavy drinkers at risk for alcohol use disorder.

Relationships among Alcohol Drinking Patterns, Macronutrient Composition, and Caloric Intake: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2018

BACKGROUND

Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with poor diet. Mixed reports in literature, so far, emphasize on the detailed understanding of relationships between diet composition and binge drinking at different drinking thresholds.

OBJECTIVE

We examined the association of alcohol consumption thresholds with macronutrient composition, caloric intake and anthropometric measures from the NHANES 2017-2018 dataset.

METHODS

A total of 2320 participants' data were analyzed. Energy and nutrient content from daily food and beverage intake were assessed via two dietary recall interviews. Physical examination and Alcohol Use Questionnaire including details about lifetime and current usage patterns were obtained. Correlations were evaluated using the Rao-Scott F Adjusted Chi-square statistic and Wald F-test. Sample-weighted multiple linear regression models were built to analyze the associations among volume of alcohol consumed, weight history and macronutrient intake.

RESULTS

Waist circumference was significantly higher in 0- < 4 drinks/episode (low-quantity) drinkers than 4-7 drinks/episode (medium-quantity) and 8-11 drinks/episode (high-quantity) drinkers. High-quantity drinkers consumed significantly more kilocalories (2569.91) compared with low-quantity drinkers (2106.73). Low-quantity drinkers consumed more energy from carbohydrate and fat than medium and high-quantity drinkers. Very high-quantity drinkers (12+ drinks/episode) consumed less fiber (12.81 g) than low-quantity drinkers (16.67 g).

CONCLUSIONS

We observed an association between high alcohol intake and differences in eating habits and body composition. The findings suggest a need to compare more specific drinking patterns and their impact on nutrient intake. Although some results conflicted with previous studies, the mechanisms underlying alcohol's effect on ingestive and digestive metabolic pathways are still unclear and require further investigation.

The effects of removing cloudwater and lowering ambient O3 on red spruce grown at high elevations in the southern Appalachians

This study was conducted to determine whether acidic cloudwater and ozone (O3) influence the growth of red spruce (Picea rubens L.) seedlings growing at a high elevation site in the southern Appalachian Mountains. A field exclusion chamber study was established at Whitetop Mountain, VA (elevation 1689 m) which included the following treatments: (1) clouds and O3 excluded (COE); (2) exposure to ambient O3 with clouds excluded (CE); (3) exposure to clouds and O3 (CC); and (4) ambient air plots (AA) that served as a control to evaluate possible chamber effects. After 2 years, seedlings exposed to ambient levels of O3 and cloudwater (AA and CC) did not differ in biomass accumulation, diameter growth, or epicuticular wax amounts from seedlings grown in chambers where pollution levels were reduced (CE and COE). Treatments receiving cloudwater (AA and CC) had statistically lower current-year needle concentrations of Ca and Mg, indicating that the cloudwater exposure dynamics occurring at this site elicited reductions in needle Ca and Mg. Ozone had negligible impact on all of the seedling parameters measured.