title: Alcohol decreases insulin sensitivity in healthy subjects.
abstract: To study the effect of alcohol on glucose and insulin metabolism, a simultaneous infusion of glucose and insulin was given for 150 min to healthy volunteers, once during alcohol and once during calorie-free gingerale (control) ingestion. During alcohol intake, the average steady-state (between 100 and 150 min) glucose of 5.44 +/- 0.39 mmol/l. and the average steady-state insulin of 6.3 +/- 1.1 ng/ml were significantly higher than those (4.0 +/- 0.39 mmol/l. of glucose and 4.4 +/- 0.6 ng/ml of insulin) observed during the control state. Despite the higher steady-state insulin concentrations, the glucose metabolism was significantly less during alcohol ingestion. These findings suggest alcohol-induced impairment in glucose metabolism is caused by a decreased tissue sensitivity to insulin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, Columbia, MO 65201.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D000431:Ethanol; D005947:Glucose