Alcohol consumption and type 2 diabetes: Meta-analysis of epidemiological studies indicates a U-shaped relationship
Open accessAbstract
To clarify the relationship between alcohol consumption and type 2 diabetes we conducted a meta-analysis of published epidemiological studies. Data from 13 cohorts were included in the analysis. The results of these studies are consistent with regard to moderate alcohol consumption, indicating a protective effect in the order of 30% (relative risk [RR]meta = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.67-0.77). The reduced risk is seen in men as well as in women, although few studies investigated women. No protective effect of high alcohol consumption was seen and one cannot rule out that large intakes of alcohol may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Results from published studies suggest a U-shaped relationship between alcohol and type 2 diabetes, but this is based on rather few studies with heterogeneous design and definitions. It seems important to further investigate if, and to what extent, high alcohol consumption increases the risk of type 2 diabetes. Aspects of moderate alcohol consumption also need further investigation; these include type of drink, frequency of drinking, sex and ethnic differences.
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There seems to be a beneficial effect of alcohol use on diabetes mellitus type 2 incidence.
“There seems to be a beneficial effect of alcohol use on diabetes mellitus type 2 incidence 188, as evidenced in meta‐analyses and in systematic reviews 189, 190, 191, 192, 193.”
From The relationship between different dimensions of alcohol use and the burden of disease—an update (2017) · cites this paper as [190]
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- Authors
- Carlsson, S., Hammar, N., & Grill, V.
- Affiliations
- Karolinska University Hospital (SE)
- Karolinska Institutet (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Carlsson, S.
- Venue
- Diabetologia
- Published
- 2005-04-30
- Volume
- 48
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1051-1054
- ISSN
- 0012-186X (ISSN-L)
- 1432-0428
- OpenAlex
- W1543687805
- Cited by
- 239
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 20
- FWCI
- 1.50
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Diabetologia (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
- Keywords
- alcohol consumption, type 2 diabetes, moderate drinking, U-shaped relationship, protective effect, sex differences, ethnic differences, drinking frequency
- MeSH terms
- Alcohol Drinking, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Humans
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