Alcohol and the Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Women

BACKGROUND: Moderate drinking has been known to be associated with a risk of reduced cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. The metabolic syndrome has been associated with a risk of increased cardiovascular diseases. Because drinking is considered as a risk factor of the metabolic syndrome, this study was performed to examine the association between alcohol drinking and the metabolic syndrome in Korean women. METHODS: The subjects were 262 women who visited the health promotion center of Chungnam National University Hospital for general health check-up. The metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to the definition by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. The abdominal obesity guidelines for waist circumference applied the WHO Asian Pacific Guideline. The subjects were classified into nondrinking, moderate drinking (1 drink) according to their drinking amount per day. The relationship between the components of the metabolic syndrome and drinking state were investigated. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was compared according to the drinking state. RESULTS: The women with moderate drinking showed significantly lower levels of triglyceride than nondrinkers (P<0.05). The women with drinking showed significantly higher levels of HDL cholesterol than nondrinkers (moderate drinkers P<0.05, heavy drinkers P<0.05). Considering nondrinkers as standard, the risk of the metabolic syndrome was significantly low in women with moderate drinking (odds ratio=0.43, 95% confidence interval: 0.22~0.84, P=0.013). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggest that moderate drinking is related to a lower rate of the metabolic syndrome in Korean women.

Family Function and Children of Alcoholics Screening Test Score in High School Students

BACKGROUND: Parent's alcohol drinking not only influences their health but also their children. This research was designed to assess the family function of children who were affected by parent's alcohol drinking. METHODS: Questionnaire survey was performed on 208 high school students (129 males and 79 females) in Daejeon from March to April, 2005. We defined the students whose CAST (Children of Alcoholics Screening Test) score was 6 or more as children of alcoholics (COA) group. Then, we evaluated the family function by family APGAR score between the COA group and the control group. RESULTS: Among the total, 36 (27.9%) male and 27 (34.1%) female students were in COA group. There was a significant (P<0.01) negative correlation between the CAST score and the family APGAR score in all students. In boys, there was no significant correlation between the CAST score and the family APGAR score, but in girls, there was significant negative correlation (P<0.01). Mean family APGAR score of the COA group was significantly (P<0.05) lower than that of the control group in all students. In boys, there was no significant difference, but in girls, the COA group's family APGAR score was significantly lower than the control group's score (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The high school students, especially girl students, who were affected by parent's alcohol drinking showed a lower family APGAR score. Therefore, family physicians need to evaluate the family function when encountering students similar to COA group.