Research
Macro partitioning
Abstinence from alcohol (no drinks per day) is associated with a higher risk of metabolic syndrome compared to moderate consumption (one to three drinks per day).
If you do not drink alcohol, you are not at higher risk for metabolic syndrome than moderate drinkers. The study's finding that moderate drinkers had lower risk than abstainers is observational and does not imply that non-drinkers should start drinking. Focus on maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active.
ModerateQualifiesMEDIUM confidence
no alcohol intake (versus one to three drinks per day)... [was] associated with an increased risk for the metabolic syndrome
Why this rating
Observational study, potential for confounding, association attenuated in multivariable models.
Source
Risk Factors for the Metabolic Syndrome
Mercedes R. Carnethon et al. · Diabetes Care · 2004
DOI 10.2337/diacare.27.11.2707
cohort · n=4192Cited 345×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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