Beer, wine and lifestyle: a cross-sectional study of the Belgian military population

Background: A reduction in mortality associated with wine drinking compared to beer drinking has been suggested in the past. A recent meta-analysis could not confirm the observed differential effect. Other characteristics not related to specific components of beer and wine must play a role in the relationship between wine and mortality, thereby explaining the differential protective results.Methods: A military population was selected to investigate the lifestyle differences between beer and wine drinkers. A food-frequency questionnaire was used to register alcohol and food consumption, together with questionnaires for health-related and lifestyle characteristics. Three dietary patterns were characterized by the Healthy Eating Index 2010, the Mediterranean Diet Score and a pattern obtained by principal component analysis.Results: In the multivariate analysis, beer consumption decreased with increasing age, military rank, physical activity and dietary pattern scores. Beer consumption increased with total energy intake and with smoking.Conclusion: Wine consumption was associated with a healthier lifestyle compared with beer consumption. Those differences must be taken into account when relating types of alcoholic beverage consumption with health-related outcomes.

Native and exotic seed dispersal by the stone marten(Martes foina):implications for the regeneration of a relict climactic forest in central Portugal

The stone marten(Martes foina)is a carnivorous mammal that often consumes fleshy fruits,thus potential­ly promoting seed dispersion.The present study was developed in Bussaco National Forest,central Portugal,and aimed to assess the potential role of the stone marten in dispersing native and exotic plants in different for­est landscape types.Seeds from stone marten scats and fleshy fruits were collected monthly and were thereafter identified and sowed in a nursery,following a randomized experimental setup.Plant emergence was monitored fortnightly.Generalized linear models were used to test for differences in time and success of emergence be­tween seeds from scats and fruits of 3 native species(Rubus ulmifolius,Arbutus unedo and Celtis australis)and 1 exotic plant species with invasive behavior(Prunus laurocerasus).Fruit consumption by the stone martens significantly increased and accelerated the germination of the native R.ulmifolius but had no effect on the other 2 native species or on the invasive species.This suggested that stone martens contribute to gene flow and forest regeneration by dispersing native plant seeds.However,although the germination was not enhanced in the in­vasive species,the preference of stone martens for these fruits may potentially contribute to the proliferation of P.laurocerasus.Our study represents a contribution to better understanding the fauna and flora interactions,en­abling for a more conscious and effective decision-making in forest management.