Abstract
ObjectiveModerate alcohol consumption is associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. Our aim was to investigate whether alcohol consumption is associated with the risk of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA), an autoimmune form of diabetes with features of type 2 diabetes.DesignA population-based case–control study was carried out to investigate the association of alcohol consumption and the risk of LADA.MethodsWe used data from the ESTRID case–control study carried out between 2010 and 2013, including 250 incident cases of LADA (glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GADAs) positive) and 764 cases of type 2 diabetes (GADA negative), and 1012 randomly selected controls aged ≥35. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) of diabetes in relation to alcohol intake, adjusted for age, sex, BMI, family history of diabetes, smoking, and education.ResultsAlcohol consumption was inversely associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.92–0.99 for every 5-g increment in daily intake). Similar results were observed for LADA, but stratification by median GADA levels revealed that the results only pertained to LADA with low GADA levels (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.76–0.94/5 g alcohol per day), whereas no association was observed with LADA having high GADA levels (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.94–1.06/5 g per day). Every 5-g increment of daily alcohol intake was associated with a 10% increase in GADA levels (P=0.0312), and a 10% reduction in homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (P=0.0418).ConclusionsOur findings indicate that alcohol intake may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and type 2-like LADA, but has no beneficial effects on diabetes-related autoimmunity.
Highlights
Recent findings from the Norwegian HUNT study have suggested that moderate intake of alcohol is associated with a reduced risk of autoimmune diabetes in adults [1]
With regard to latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA), alcohol intake was only associated with a reduced risk of LADA with low glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GADAs) levels, whereas no association was observed for LADA with high levels of GADA
Our findings confirm that the LADA concept is heterogeneous; LADA patients with low GADA levels tended to be more type 2-like phenotypically than those with high GADA levels, and the risk factors may differ [4, 27]
Summary
Recent findings from the Norwegian HUNT study have suggested that moderate intake of alcohol is associated with a reduced risk of autoimmune diabetes in adults [1]. These findings were based on a limited number of cases and the role of sex, beverage preferences, dose– response, and underlying mechanisms could not be addressed. Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is estimated to account for 9% of all diabetes in Europe according to a recent report, making it the second most common form of diabetes [2]. It is appreciated that similarities with type 1 (degree of autoimmunity) and type 2 diabetes (degree of IR) are variable between patients, attesting to heterogeneity of LADA
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
