Search resultsModerate alcohol consumption is associated with impaired insulin secretion and fasting glucose in non-obese non-diabetic men.
AIMS: A low insulin secretion capacity has been implicated in the high prevalence of non-obese diabetes in East Asians. Since alcohol consumption alters insulin and glucose metabolism, we tested the hypothesis that alcohol consumption contributes to impaired insulin secretion and glucose intolerance in lean/normal-weight non-diabetic Japanese men.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study was undertaken among the residents of Shika town, Japan between 2011 and 2017. A total of 402 non-diabetic men, including participants with normal fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and impaired FPG (FPG 5.6 - 6.9 mmol/l) and aged ≥40 years old, were examined. FPG, the homeostasis model assessment of insulin secretion capacity (HOMA-B), and alcohol consumption were evaluated and compared between the BMI <25 and BMI ≥25 groups.
RESULTS: HOMA-B levels were lower in the BMI <25-group than in the BMI ≥25-group. Alcohol consumption correlated with a low HOMA-B level regardless of BMI, and, thus, the HOMA-B levels of alcohol drinkers were significantly lower in the BMI <25-group. A multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that alcohol consumption, even light to moderate consumption (1 - 25 g/day), was associated with significantly low levels of HOMA-B and impaired FPG in the BMI <25-group. Among participants with impaired FPG, a low level of HOMA-B was observed in alcohol drinkers, but not in non-drinkers. In contrast, light to moderate alcohol consumption was not related to HOMA-B or FPG in the BMI ≥25-group.
CONCLUSION: Alcohol consumption, even a small amount, may contribute to reductions in HOMA-B levels and impaired FPG in lean/normal-weight Japanese men.