Beneficial Effects of Ethanol Consumption on Insulin Resistance Are Only Applicable to Subjects Without Obesity or Insulin Resistance; Drinking is not Necessarily a Remedy for Metabolic Syndrome
2011

Ethanol Consumption and Insulin Resistance

Sample size: 371 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Yokoyama Hirokazu

Primary Institution: Health Center, Keio University

Hypothesis

Can moderate ethanol consumption improve insulin resistance in non-obese individuals?

Conclusion

Ethanol consumption may lower insulin resistance levels, but this effect does not apply to individuals with obesity or insulin resistance.

Supporting Evidence

  • Ethanol consumption was inversely correlated with insulin resistance levels.
  • The beneficial effects of ethanol were not applicable to subjects with obesity.
  • Subjects with normal BMI showed significant correlations between ethanol consumption and insulin resistance.

Takeaway

Drinking a little alcohol might help some people with insulin resistance, but it doesn't work for those who are overweight or already have insulin problems.

Methodology

The study examined the correlation between ethanol consumption and insulin resistance in 371 non-diabetic male Japanese workers using multiple regression analysis.

Potential Biases

Potential bias due to exclusion of diabetic subjects and those with chronic conditions.

Limitations

The study did not account for the types of alcoholic beverages consumed or the integrating amount of ethanol consumption.

Participant Demographics

Active male workers aged 30 to 65 years from a Japanese corporation.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.0014

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.3390/ijerph8073019

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