Men's Gut Health Improves By Quaffing Lager, Portuguese Study Shows

A new study may be encouraging for men wanting to put a positive spin on the term "beer belly." Judy Packer-Tursman of United Press International (UPI) revealed on June 16, 2022, that moderate daily use of lager beer could actually improve their intestinal health.

Photo Insert: A lager a day keeps the doctor away?

Healthy men who drank one alcoholic or non-alcoholic lager daily developed a more diverse set of gut microbes, which is linked to a lower risk of chronic illnesses like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, according to a small study published Wednesday in the American Chemical Society's Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

"I think the most important finding is that beer can positively modulate intestinal microbiota," the study's lead author, Ana Faria, told UPI. It is very interesting to consider that the moderate consumption of beer, with or without alcohol, can be a strategy to improve our microbiota as a part of a well-balanced diet."

Faria is a professor at NOVA Medical School in Lisbon, Portugal, which is part of the Universidade NOVA de Lisboa. Her colleagues and she collaborated on the research.

According to the chemical society's news release on the study, the human gastrointestinal tract is lined with trillions of microorganisms, and beer contains chemicals like polyphenols, as well as living microorganisms from the fermentation process, that could impact the microbiota mix.

The researchers put 20 healthy males aged 18 to 65 into two groups and had them consume one 11-fluid ounce bottle of either alcoholic lager or non-alcoholic beer with dinner for four weeks in a randomized, double-blind, controlled study.

Based on blood and fecal samples, the participants' body weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), and serum biomarkers for heart health and metabolism did not alter during the course of the study.

However, both groups had more bacterial diversity in their gut microbiome and higher levels of fecal alkaline phosphatase activity at the end of the four-week period. This enzyme helps fight bad bacteria in the gut, which suggests improved intestinal health, according to the researchers.

WEEKLY FEATURE : MVP Group Keeps Lights On During Pandemic