Alcohol as a Risk Factor for Type 2 Diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Alcohol as a Risk Factor for Type 2 Diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

by Baliunas, D. O., Taylor, B. J., Irving, H., Roerecke, M., Patra, J., Mohapatra, S., Rehm, J.

OBJECTIVE 

To clarify the dose-response relationship between alcohol consumption and type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS 

A systematic computer-assisted and hand search was conducted to identify relevant articles with longitudinal design and quantitative measurement of alcohol consumption. Adjustment was made for the sick-quitter effect. We used fractional polynomials in a meta-regression to determine the dose-response relationships by sex and end point using lifetime abstainers as the reference group.

RESULTS 

The search revealed 20 cohort studies that met our inclusion criteria. A U-shaped relationship was found for both sexes. Compared with lifetime abstainers, the relative risk (RR) for type 2 diabetes among men was most protective when consuming 22 g/day alcohol (RR 0.87 [95% CI 0.76–1.00]) and became deleterious at just over 60 g/day alcohol (1.01 [0.71–1.44]). Among women, consumption of 24 g/day alcohol was most protective (0.60 [0.52–0.69]) and became deleterious at about 50 g/day alcohol (1.02 [0.83–1.26]).

CONCLUSIONS 

Our analysis confirms previous research findings that moderate alcohol consumption is protective for type 2 diabetes in men and women.