Employed problem drinkers: a nutritional risk group?

Nutritional assessment was made in 26 employed Finnish men drinking excessively and in 49 control men. Because of their greater alcohol consumption, daily intake of energy of case men significantly exceeded that of control men; other dietary differences were negligible. Compared with control men, case men had thicker fatfolds but reduced mean body mass and arm muscle circumference. Mean circulating levels of vitamin C and alpha-tocopherol were normal and equal in case and control men, but serum retinol was raised and beta-carotene was reduced in case men. Serum concentration and 24-h urinary excretion of selenium were significantly lower in case than in control men. Serum levels of magnesium and zinc were similar in both groups, but urinary excretions were higher in case men. Heavy drinking does not result in florid nutritional deficiencies in socially intact men, but its role in subtle nutritional alterations deserves further studies.