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Effect of moderate alcohol consumption on adipokines and insulin sensitivity in lean and overweight men: a diet intervention study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 62, pages 1098–1105 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

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.

Subjects:

Twenty healthy, lean (body mass index (BMI) 18.5–25 kg/m2; n=11) or overweight (BMI>27 kg/m2; 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.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge all those involved in the conduct of the study and thank the volunteers for their enthusiastic participation. The research described in this article was funded by the Dutch Foundation for Alcohol Research (SAR).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. TNO Quality of Life, Business unit Biosciences, Zeist, The Netherlands

    J W J Beulens, E C de Zoete, G Schaafsma & H F J Hendriks

  2. Department of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    J W J Beulens, E C de Zoete & F J Kok

Authors
  1. J W J Beulens
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  2. E C de Zoete
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  3. F J Kok
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  4. G Schaafsma
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  5. H F J Hendriks
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to H F J Hendriks.

Additional information

Contributors: JWJB had full access to all of the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Study concept and design:JWJB, FJK, GS, HFJH. Acquisition of data: JWJB, HFJH. Analysis and interpretation of the data:JWJB, ECdZ, FJK, GS, HFJH. Drafting of the manuscript: JWJB, ECdZ. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: JWJB, ECdZ, FJK, GS, HFJH. Statistical analysis: JWJB, ECdZ. Study supervision: HFJH.

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Beulens, J., de Zoete, E., Kok, F. et al. Effect of moderate alcohol consumption on adipokines and insulin sensitivity in lean and overweight men: a diet intervention study. Eur J Clin Nutr 62, 1098–1105 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602821

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602821

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