Women who are light to moderate drinkers are 20-58% less likely to get type 2 diabetes

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Sunday, August 28, 2005 11:14 pm Email this article
Light to moderate drinking is associated with a 20 to 58 percent reduction in the risk of type 2 diabetes in women according to a study from researchers at the Royal Free and University College Medical School in London, England. Women who drank up to one drink per day were 20-58% less likely to get type 2 diabetes over ten years

Over and ten year period, from 1989 to 1999, compared to women who were non-drinkers:

• women who consumed 0.1 to 4.9 grams of alcohol per day were 20 percent less likely to get type 2 diabetes
• women who consumed 5 to 14.9 grams of alcohol per day were 33 percent less likely to get type 2 diabetes
• women who consumed 15 to 29.9 grams of alcohol per day were 58 percent less likely to get type 2 diabetes
• women who consumed 30 grams or more of alcohol per day were 22 percent less likely to get type 2 diabetes, although this was not statistically significant

Women who consumed one or more ounces of liquor per day 2.5 times more likely to get type 2 diabetes

The reduction in risk of type 2 diabetes was most apparent in women who drank wine and beer.

Women who reported drinking one ounce or more of liquor per day (30 grams per day or more)—the equivalent of one drink or more per day were 2.5 times more likely (150 percent more likely) to get type 2 diabetes during the ten year follow-up compared with those who did not report liquor intake.

Conclusion: Light drinking increases the risk of weight gain in Black women, heavy drinking increases the risk in White women

“Light to moderate alcoholic beverage consumption may be associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus among women aged 25 to 42 years, although this benefit may not persist at higher levels [of consumption],” the authors concluded.

Subjects: 109,690 women 27-44 years-old

The study followed 49,324 women 25- to 52-years-old without a history of coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, or diabetes mellitus completed a detailed lifestyle and medical history questionnaire in 1989 and were followed for ten years.

REFERENCE

Wannamethee S, Camargo CJ, Manson JE, Willett W, Rimm E. Alcohol drinking patterns and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus among younger women. Arch Intern Med. 2003 Jun 9, 163(11):1329-36.

AUTHOR’S CONTACT INFORMATION

Department of Primary Care and Population Science
Royal Free and University College Medical School
Rowland Hill Street
London, NW3 2PF, United Kingdom
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