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November 2022
Diabetes
,
The liver

Liver enzymes, alcohol consumption and the risk of diabetes

Liver enzymes, alcohol consumption and the risk of diabetes
A study aimed to investigate the combined impact of liver enzymes and alcohol consumption on the risk of diabetes.
Data on 5,972 non-diabetic participants aged 30-79 years from the Suita study were analysed. Diabetes incidence was surveyed every 2 years. Current daily alcohol consumption was defined as light drinking (< 23.0 g ethanol/day in men and < 11.5 g in women), moderate drinking (23.0-45.9 g and 11.5-22.9 g), and heavy drinking (≥ 46.0 g and ≥ 23.0 g). The nondrinkers category included both never-drinkers and former drinkers.
During the median follow-up of 13 years, 597 incident diabetes cases were diagnosed. Higher levels of γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (GPT), and aspartate aminotransferase (GOT) were associated with an increased diabetes risk, and current light drinkers had a lower risk of diabetes than nondrinkers. No sex differences were observed in these associations.
Compared to non drinkers having the lowest quartiles of liver enzymes, non drinkers and current moderate/heavy drinkers having the highest quartiles had an increased risk of diabetes. However, no association was observed for current light drinkers having the highest quartiles of liver enzymes; the multivariable hazard ratios (95% CIs) in current light drinkers with the highest quartile of liver enzymes were 1.27 (0.68-2.37) for GGT, 1.05 (0.59-1.89) for GPT, and 0.76 (0.40-1.47) for GOT, respectively.
High liver enzymes were associated with an increased diabetes risk. No increased diabetes risk was observed in current light drinkers (< 23.0 g ethanol/day in men and < 11.5 g in women), even in those who had high levels of liver enzymes.
Source: Li J, Arafa A, Kashima R, Teramoto M, Nakao YM, Honda-Kohmo K, Sakai Y, Watanabe E, Dohi T, Kokubo Y. Liver enzymes, alcohol consumption and the risk of diabetes: the Suita study. Acta Diabetol. 2022 Dec;59(12):1531-1537. doi.org/10.1007/s00592-022-01949-1.
doi.org/10.1007/s00592-022-01949-1
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