Abstract

Binge drinking is a major public health problem that affects all age groups. Its relation to the risk of impaired glucose metabolism and diabetes is unclear due to controversial findings in animal models and lack of studies in humans. We performed an experimental study on 10 adult volunteers (7M/3F) under the age of 40 who were occasional binge drinkers. In all participants, we performed a baseline two-hour euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp at 80 mU•m−2•min−1 at baseline for comparison with an age and sex matched control population of non-drinkers. On a second occasion, before and after ingestion of 78 g of alcohol (beer) in 2 hrs we also measured insulin sensitivity using a 15-minute short insulin tolerance test in drinkers. Blood glucose was also measured every 15 mins over 2 hours during alcohol ingestion. Volunteers were aged 27.6 ± 5.7 years, with a BMI of 23.1 ± 2.8 kg/m2, and ALAT of 24.7 ± 3.0 UI/L. Insulin sensitivity evaluated by the clamp technique was higher in occasional drinkers (M = 12.7 ± 3.4 mg•kg−1•min−1 vs. 8.0 ± 2.3 mg•kg−1•min−1 in non-drinkers, p = 0.011). Acute alcohol ingestion was associated with a non-significant trends towards improved glucose disappearance during short insulin tolerance test (KITT 2.53% ± 0.22%/min before vs. 3.11% ± 1.15%/min after; p = 0.122). Beer consumption induced a significant increase in capillary glycaemia of 78% (p = 0.001). Bingeing was associated with reduced insulin secretion (Homa-β 113.5 ± 22.7 vs. 155.4 ± 57.6; p = 0.047). Binge drinking may induce an increase in insulin sensitivity but acutely decrease insulin secretion.

Highlights

  • Alcohol is the third highest risk factor for morbidity and mortality after hypertension and smoking

  • Most evidence to date is derived from animal studies, limited data exist in humans associating binge drinking to impaired glucose metabolism

  • There was no difference in C-peptide levels which is the marker for insulin secretion in both groups but Homa-β was lower in drinkers (p = 0.047)

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Summary

Introduction

Alcohol is the third highest risk factor for morbidity and mortality after hypertension and smoking. Binge drinking is a public health problem and is linked to an increased incidence in type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, the mechanism by which binge drinking affects glucose metabolism remains unclear [3]. This increased incidence with binge drinking has been attributed to increased insulin resistance. Chronic alcohol consumption is known to affect insulin secretion but little is known about binge drinking. We evaluated the acute effects of binge drinking on glucose metabolism, glycaemic profile during binge drinking, insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion

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