Affiliations: Research and Development Department, Kirin Brewery
Company, Limited, 10-1, Shinkawa 2-Chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyou, 104-8288, Japan.
Tel.: +81 3 5541 5337; Fax: +81 3 5541 5366; E-mail: kondok@kirin.co.jp
Abstract: It has been demonstrated that the light-to-moderate consumption of
alcoholic beverages is associated with significant reductions in all-cause and
particularly cardiovascular mortality. While the inverse association between
red-wine consumption and cardiovascular risk is globally recognized as the
French paradox, many epidemiological studies have concluded that beer and red
wine are equally beneficial. Moderate alcohol intake improves lipoprotein
metabolism and lowers cardiovascular mortality risk. The question now is
whether additional health benefits associated with the non-alcohol components
in beer may be expected. This article summarizes the results of the latest
studies on the health benefits of beer while referring to our recent results,
which demonstrate the preventive effects of beer and its components on
lifestyle-related diseases. A series of studies using animal models have shown
that beer may prevent carcinogenesis and osteoporosis; beer provides plasma
with significant protection from oxidative stress; and isohumulones, the bitter
substances derived from hops, may prevent and improve obesity and type-2
diabetes, improve lipid metabolism, and suppress atherosclerosis. Further
studies are needed to clarify the components in addition to isohumulones that
are responsible for these beneficial effects of beer, and the underlying
mechanisms must be addressed.
