Effect of moderate alcohol consumption on adipokines and insulin sensitivity in lean and overweight men: a diet intervention study.
OBJECTIVE
Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a decreased risk of type II diabetes. This study investigates the effect of moderate alcohol consumption on adipokines and insulin sensitivity.


METHODS
Twenty healthy, lean (body mass index (BMI) 18.5-25 kg/m(2); n=11) or overweight (BMI>27 kg/m(2); n=9) men (18-25 years).


METHODS
Three cans of beer (40 g alcohol) or alcohol-free beer daily during 3 weeks.


RESULTS
Adiponectin and ghrelin concentrations increased (P<0.01) by 11 and 8%, while acylation-stimulating protein (ASP) concentrations decreased by 12% (P=0.04) after moderate alcohol consumption. Concentrations of leptin and resistin remained unchanged. Insulin sensitivity by an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was not affected by moderate alcohol consumption, but 2 h glucose concentrations were lower (P=0.01) after beer (4.5+/-0.1 mmol/l) than alcohol-free beer (4.9+/-0.1 mmol/l). Both free fatty acids and glucagon concentrations showed a stronger increase (P<0.01) after 90 min during OGTT after beer than alcohol-free beer. Changes of adiponectin were positively correlated (r=0.69, P<0.001), and changes of leptin (r=-0.53, P=0.016) and ASP (r=-0.43, P=0.067) were negatively correlated with changes of insulin sensitivity index. All these results did not differ between lean and overweight men.


CONCLUSIONS
Moderate alcohol consumption increased adiponectin and ghrelin, while it decreased ASP concentrations both in lean and overweight men. These changes are in line with the hypothesized improvement of insulin sensitivity, but did not affect insulin sensitivity within 3 weeks of moderate alcohol consumption.
Beulens
J W J
JW
TNO Quality of Life, Business unit Biosciences, Zeist, The Netherlands.
de Zoete
E C
EC
Kok
F J
FJ
Schaafsma
G
G
Hendriks
H F J
HF
D000215:Acylation; D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000378:metabolism*; D001515:Beer; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood*; D013851:Thinness / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
D054392:Adipokines; D054439:Ghrelin; D008055:Lipids