Chronic Alcohol Consumption is Inversely Associated with Insulin Resistance and Fatty Liver in Japanese Males.

Abstract

We aimed to elucidate the effect of chronic alcohol consumption on fatty liver. We assessed the consumption of alcohol in 2429 Japanese males (mean age: 54.2 ± 9 years); they were classified according to average consumption into non-drinkers (ND), light drinkers (LD), moderate drinkers (MD), and heavy drinkers (HD). The prevalence of fatty liver was the lowest in the MD and highest in the ND group (p < 0.001), while obesity was not significantly different among the groups (p = 0.133). Elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were the lowest in the MD group (p = 0.011) along with resistance to insulin (homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)), which was highest in the ND group (p = 0.001). Chronic consumption of alcohol was independently and inversely associated with fatty liver and insulin resistance after adjusting for obesity, hypertension, fasting hyperglycemia, habit of drinking sweet beverages, physical activity, and age (odds ratios are as follows: ND, 1; LD, 0.682; MD, 0.771; HD, 0.840 and ND, 1; LD, 0.724; MD, 0.701; HD, 0.800, respectively). We found that regardless of the type of alcoholic beverage, chronic consumption of alcohol is inversely associated with insulin resistance and fatty liver in Japanese males. This study had limitations, most notably the lack of investigation into diet and nutrition.

• Authors: Takemi Akahane, Tadashi Namisaki, Kosuke Kaji, Kei Moriya, Hideto Kawaratani, Hiroaki Takaya, Yasuhiko Sawada, Naotaka Shimozato, Yukihisa Fujinaga, Masanori Furukawa, Koh Kitagawa, Takahiro Ozutsumi, Yuuki Tsuji, Daisuke Kaya, Hiroyuki Ogawa, Hirotetsu Takagi, Koji Ishida, Hitoshi Yoshiji
• Journal: Nutrients (Nutrients) Vol. 12 Issue 4 (Apr 09 2020) ISSN: 2072-6643 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 32283773 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Alanine Transaminase

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Alanine Transaminase (blood)
• Alcohol Drinking
• Asian People
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Fatty Liver (epidemiology, prevention & control)
• Humans
• Insulin Resistance
• Japan (epidemiology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Obesity (epidemiology)
• Prevalence