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Alcohol Drinking May Cut Women's Risk of Diabetes
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - New research suggests that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol may help prevent healthy postmenopausal women from developing diabetes as well as heart disease. According to the report, women who consumed one to two drinks a day were better able to respond to insulin, a hormone that helps cells use sugar for energy. These women also had lower levels of insulin in their blood. High blood levels of insulin, as well as decreased insulin sensitivity, are risk factors for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
In the study, 51 healthy, postmenopausal women rotated among three 8-week treatment periods in which they consumed either no alcohol, one drink a day, or two drinks daily, in addition to a diet to maintain their body weight. Blood samples drawn from the women revealed that insulin levels were nearly 20% lower after consuming two drinks compared to women consuming no alcohol. Levels of triglycerides, a type of fat associated with increased risk of heart disease, were about 10% lower in the two-drink-a-day group compared with the no-alcohol group. Insulin sensitivity rose by roughly 7% after two drinks. There was no effect on blood glucose.
The researchers attributed the findings to the effects of alcohol, but note that other compounds in red wine may provide additional protection. Whatever the beneficial component in alcohol may be, the findings are consistent with previous reports that have observed improved insulin sensitivity among nondiabetic adults who drink moderately.
SOURCE: The Journal of the American Medical Association 2002;287:2559 (5/15/02)
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