Alcohol consumption and insulin resistance in young adults.
BACKGROUND
Alcohol may have a cardioprotective effect. One possible mechanism is by reducing insulin resistance, a known cardiovascular risk factor. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between alcohol consumption, insulin resistance and other parameters determining glucose tolerance in 154 young men and women.


METHODS
Subjects completed a questionnaire documenting weekly alcohol consumption. Insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance were measured using the intravenous glucose tolerance test with minimal model analysis. Height, weight, usual level of exercise, smoking habits and socio-economic status were also recorded.


RESULTS
Insulin sensitivity correlated inversely with body mass index (r = - 0.529, P < 0.001) but not with level of physical fitness. Women were significantly less insulin sensitive than men (4.19 and 5.63 104 min-1 pmol-1 L-1, respectively; P < 0.001). Insulin sensitivity correlated positively with alcohol consumption and this trend remained significant allowing for body mass index and gender (beta = 0.17, P < 0.014). First-phase insulin secretion showed a weak but non-significant trend in the opposite direction. Fasting glucose, fasting insulin and glucose tolerance showed no relationships with alcohol consumption.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest a close relationship between alcohol consumption and insulin resistance in young adults. Regular alcohol consumption is associated with decreased insulin resistance and this may partly explain the cardioprotective effect of alcohol.
Flanagan
D E
DE
University of Southampton, Southampton; Imperial College School of Medicine, London, UK. daniel@flanagan.freeserve.co.uk
Moore
V M
VM
Godsland
I F
IF
Cockington
R A
RA
Robinson
J S
JS
Phillips
D I
DI
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin