Alcohol acutely increases vascular reactivity together with insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic men.
Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with increased insulin sensitivity and reduced cardiovascular risk. We hypothesized that this relates to a direct effect of alcohol and therefore investigated whether acute alcohol intake altered insulin sensitivity or endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes. In an open-label two period design, the effect of a single oral dose of 40 g of alcohol (168 ml 40% vodka) on an insulin-modified frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIGT) and on endothelium-dependent (flow mediated, FMD) or endothelium-independent (glyceroltrinitrate (GTN)-induced) vasodilation of the brachial artery measured by ultrasound was studied. Experiments were carried out in twelve male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (64+/-6 years, body mass index 28.4+/-5.7 kg/m (2)). Baseline insulin sensitivity index (S (I)) was 1.10+/-0.34 min (-1).microU (-1).ml, baseline FMD was +4.1+/-3.0%, and GTN-induced vasodilation +7.4+/-2.3% from resting brachial artery diameter. Acute alcohol intake increased alcohol plasma levels to 0.33+/-0.04 per thousand, S (I) to 1.86+/-0.45 min (-1).microU (-1).ml (p<0.05), and FMD to +8.2+/-2.8% (p<0.05), while GTN-induced dilation remained unchanged. No relationship was detectable between the observed changes. We conclude that alcohol intake acutely increases endothelium-dependent brachial artery vasodilation in patients with type 2 diabetes together with insulin sensitivity. This acute effect might explain some beneficial effects of low alcohol consumption in epidemiological observations.
Schaller
G
G
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
Kretschmer
S
S
Gouya
G
G
Haider
D G
DG
Mittermayer
F
F
Riedl
M
M
Wagner
O
O
Pacini
G
G
Wolzt
M
M
Ludvik
B
B
D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000431:Ethanol; D005996:Nitroglycerin