Moderate Alcohol Consumption
Reduces the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
A 20-year follow-up of the Finnish Twin Cohort Study
shows the relationship between moderate alcohol
consumption and the risk for diabetes.The aim of
this study was to investigate alcohol consumption
in relation to the incidence of type 2 diabetes.
The study population consisted of 22,778 twins
of the Finnish Twin Cohort. This cohort was compiled
in 1975 and includes all same-sexed twins born
in Finland before 1958. Information on alcohol,
smoking, diet, physical activity, medical, and
social conditions was obtained by questionnaires
administered in 1975, 1981, and 1990. By record
linkage to national registers of hospital discharge
and prescribed medication, 580 incident cases
of type 2 diabetes were identified during 20 years
of follow-up.
The results showed that, moderate alcohol consumption
(5-29.9 g/day in men and 5-19.9 g/day in women)
tended to be associated with a reduced incidence
of type 2 diabetes compared with low consumption
(< 5 g/day). The estimates were lower in overweight
(BMI 25.0 kg/m2) subjects (relative risk 0.7,
95% CI 0.5-1.0 [men]; 0.6, 0.3-1.1 [women]). High
alcohol consumption ( 20 g/day) was associated
with an increased incidence of type 2 diabetes
in lean women (2.9, 1.1-7.5) but not in overweight
women or in men. In women, binge drinking was
associated with an increased incidence of type
2 diabetes (2.1, 1.0-4.4). Analyses of alcohol-discordant
twin pairs supported a reduced risk in moderate
consuming twins compared with their low-consuming
cotwins (odds ratio 0.5, 95% CI 0.2-1.5).
From the results it was suggested that moderate
alcohol consumption may reduce the risk of type
2 diabetes. On the other hand, binge drinking
and high alcohol consumption may increase the
risk of type 2 diabetes in women.
Source: S Carlsson. and al. "Alcohol
Consumption and the Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes.
A 20-year follow-up of the Finnish Twin Cohort
Study" - Diabetes Care 26:2785-2790, 2003 |
