# Beer or Ethanol Effects on the Body Composition Response to High-Intensity Interval Training. The BEER-HIIT Study

PMID: 31018614
Journal: Nutrients
Published: 2019 Apr 23
Authors: Molina-Hidalgo C, De-la-O A, Jurado-Fasoli L, Amaro-Gahete FJ, Castillo MJ

## Question

Does moderate beer or ethanol intake modify body-composition changes induced by 10 weeks of HIIT?

## Summary

In healthy adults, 10 weeks of twice-weekly whole-body HIIT improved fat mass percentage and lean mass. Moderate beer or ethanol intake did not appear to blunt the body-composition response, but allocation was partly based on participant preference and the study was small.

## Population

- Healthy adults aged 18-40 years, BMI 18.5-30, not engaged in training.
- Sample size: 72
- Age: 18-40 years
- Sex: 35 women and 37 men
- Fitness level: Not engaged in training
- Health status: Healthy

## Methodology

- Controlled trial with partial randomization and assessor blinding
- 10 weeks
- Exercise training and beverage intervention study
- Controlled study design.

## Protocol

- Whole-body circuit HIIT.
- Modality: Circuit exercises.
- Recovery: Passive rest between exercises and active rest between sets.
- Sets or repetitions: 8 exercises repeated twice per set.
- Intensity: >8/10 RPE.
- Session duration: About 20-32.5 minutes/session implied by 40-65 minutes/week.
- Frequency: 2 sessions/week.
- Program length: 10 weeks.
- Non-training beverage comparator.
- Modality: No HIIT.
- Frequency: Beverage protocol Monday-Friday.
- Program length: 10 weeks.

## Outcomes

### Fat mass
Status: improved
HIIT decreased fat mass and fat mass percentage.

Fat mass percentage between-group p=0.009.

### Lean mass
Status: improved
HIIT increased lean mass in all training beverage groups versus non-training.

Between-group p<=0.001.

### Beer/ethanol interaction
Status: no clear change
Moderate beer or ethanol did not alter HIIT body-composition response.

## Practical Insights

- A twice-weekly whole-body circuit can improve body composition in healthy adults.
- Alcohol-related findings should be framed narrowly and cautiously.

## Limitations

- Partial preference allocation rather than full randomization.
- Small sample and subgroups.
- Diet data were not collected during the intervention.
- Physical activity outside training was not monitored by accelerometer.

## Safety And Adherence

- No adverse events or injuries were reported.
- Participants completed a health exam and were excluded for pain, recent lesions, or other problems preventing strenuous activity.
- Eleven participants dropped out because of insufficient training attendance or difficulty fulfilling protocol requirements.

## Original Sources

- [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31018614/) (pubmed)
- [DOI](https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11040909) (doi)
- [PMC full text](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6521009/) (full text)

## Agent Guidance

Preserve the paper-level scope of this note. Do not generalize beyond the population, protocol, measured outcomes, and limitations above.