Alcohol consumption is associated with reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes and autoimmune diabetes in adults: results from the Nord-Trøndelag health study

Diabet. Med. 30, 56–64 (2013) Aims We investigated the influence of different aspects of alcohol consumption on the risk of Type 2 diabetes and autoimmune diabetes in adults. Methods We used data from the Nord‐Trøndelag Health Survey (HUNT) study, in which all adults aged ≥ 20 years from Nord‐Trondelag County were invited to participate in three surveys in 1984–1986, 1995–1997 and 2006–2008. Patients with diabetes were identified using self‐reports, and participants with onset age ≥ 35 years were classified as having Type 2 diabetes if they were negative for anti‐glutamic acid decarboxylase (n = 1841) and as having autoimmune diabetes if they were positive for anti‐glutamic acid decarboxylase (n = 140). Hazard ratios of amount and frequency of alcohol use, alcoholic beverage choice, and binge drinking and alcohol use disorders were estimated. Results Moderate alcohol consumption (adjusted for confounders) was associated with a reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes in men, but not in women (hazard ratio for men 10–15 g/day 0.48, 95% CI 0.28–0.77; hazard ratio for women ≥ 10 g/day 0.81, 95% CI 0.33–1.96). The reduced risk was primarily linked to consumption of wine [hazard ratio 0.93, 95% CI 0.87–0.99 (per g/day)]. No increased risk was seen in participants reporting binge drinking or in problem drinkers. The results were also compatible with a reduced risk of autoimmune diabetes associated with alcohol consumption [hazard ratio 0.70, 95% CI 0.45–1.08 (frequent consumption) and hazard ratio 0.36, 95% CI 0.13–0.97 (2–7 g/day)]. Conclusions Moderate alcohol consumption associates with reduced risk of both Type 2 diabetes and autoimmune diabetes. A protective effect of alcohol intake may be limited to men. High alcohol consumption does not seem to carry an increased risk of diabetes.