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Cross-sectional association between total level and type of alcohol consumption and glycosylated haemoglobin level: the EPIC-Norfolk Study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 56, pages 882–890 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association between total level and type of alcohol consumed and glycaemia.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: The EPIC-Norfolk Study, a population-based cohort study of diet and chronic disease.

Subjects and methods: Non-diabetic men (n=2842) and women (n=3572), aged 40–78 y. Alcohol intake was assessed by self-reported questionnaire, and glycaemia measured by glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c).

Results: Ten percent of men and 18% of women reported drinking no alcohol. Among drinkers, median alcohol intake was 8 units/week for men and 3 units/week for women. In analyses stratified by sex and adjusted for age, total energy intake, education, fruit and vegetable intake, smoking, family history of diabetes, physical activity, body mass index and waist:hip ratio, alcohol intake was inversely associated with HbA1c in men and women, although the association was stronger in women. A 1 unit/week increase in alcohol intake was associated with 0.0049% (s.e.=0.00223; P-value=0.028) and 0.017% (s.e.=0.00343; P-value <0.001) reduction in HbA1c in men and women respectively. In similar multivariate analyses, wine intake was inversely associated with HbA1c in men, and wine, spirits and beer intake were inversely associated with HbA1c in women. When also adjusted for total alcohol intake, only the association between wine intake and HbA1c in men remained significant.

Conclusion: Alcohol intake was associated with lower HbA1c level, an association not explained by confounding. The distinction between type of alcohol consumed was particularly important in men.

Sponsorship: NJW is an MRC Clinician Scientist Fellow.

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Author notes

  1. NJ Wareham: Guarantor: NJ Wareham.

  2. A-H Harding, LA Sargeant, K-T Khaw, A Welch, S Oakes, RN Luben, S Bingham, NE Day and NJ Wareham: Contributors: A-HH, LAS, K-TK and NJW contributed to the study concept, analysis and interpretation of the data and the drafting of the manuscript. K-TK, SB, NED and NJW are principal investigators of EPIC-Norfolk. AW, RNL and SO contributed to the study design and data collection and management. All authors contributed to the revision and drafting of the final version.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    A-H Harding, K-T Khaw, A Welch, S Oakes, RN Luben, S Bingham, NE Day & NJ Wareham

  2. Epidemiology Research Unit, Tropical Medicine Research Institute, University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica

    LA Sargeant

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  1. A-H Harding
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Correspondence to NJ Wareham.

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Harding, AH., Sargeant, L., Khaw, KT. et al. Cross-sectional association between total level and type of alcohol consumption and glycosylated haemoglobin level: the EPIC-Norfolk Study. Eur J Clin Nutr 56, 882–890 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601408

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