Potential protective effect of moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages against type 2 diabetes?

This systematic review, that included more than 2.5 million men and women, suggested that low to moderate use of alcoholic beverages (below 50g/d) is associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes for women, whereas no statistically significant dose-response relationship was found for men. Such an observed protective effect seems to be specific to women in general and overweight women (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2). These findings indicate that the potential protective effect of alcohol on type 2 diabetes may be dependent on both the level of consumption and the individual’s gender and body weight.

The authors partially attributed the reduced risk identified in women to the increased insulin sensitivity associated with alcohol intake. The specific protective association observed in individuals who are overweight and obese seems biologically plausible because moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages might improve the insulin resistance induced by the obesity by enhancing the insulin sensitivity.