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Alcohol consumption promotes insulin sensitivity without affecting body fat levels

International Journal of Obesity volume 33, pages 197–203 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

Alcohol consumption promotes insulin sensitivity. In obesity, a decrease in body fat levels decreases the risk of developing insulin resistance; therefore, it is possible that alcohol improves insulin sensitivity by negatively affecting body fat. The aim of this study was to determine whether alcohol consumption promotes insulin sensitivity by reducing body fat levels in C57BL/6 male mice.

Methods:

We examined the effects of alcohol consumption on insulin sensitivity in male mice with three different body weight (BW) phenotypes. The BWs were induced by feeding the mice a 30% calorie-restricted (CR) regimen, a low-fat (LF) diet and a high-fat (HF) diet. The mice had free access to water or 20% ethanol in the drinking water. To determine the effects of the three different BW phenotypes and of alcohol on glucose regulation and insulin sensitivity, we performed the insulin tolerance test (ITT) and glucose tolerance test (GTT) on the mice. The effects of the diets and alcohol on body composition, percent body fat (% BF), percent lean mass and bone mineral density (BMD) were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).

Results:

Data show that mice with the highest body fat levels (HF) were insulin resistant and glucose intolerant. In contrast, mice with the lowest body fat levels (CR) were the most insulin sensitive and cleared the injected endogenous glucose the fastest. Results show that alcohol did not affect GTT in any of the BW phenotypes. However, alcohol consumption promoted insulin sensitivity in mice consuming both the LF and HF diets. Alcohol consumption increased insulin sensitivity without affecting body fat levels, as body fat levels were similar in mice consuming the LF or HF diets and drinking either water or alcohol.

Conclusions:

Alcohol consumption promotes insulin sensitivity without affecting body fat levels in mice consuming LF and HF diets.

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Acknowledgements

Animal care was provided in accordance with the procedures outlined in the ‘Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals’ (NIH Publication No. 86-23, 1985). This work was supported by grants ACS RSG CNE-113703 (NPN), NCI 1K22CA127519-01A1 (NPN); and by NIEHS National Institutes of Health Grant ES09145 & National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Center grants ES007784.

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  1. Department of Human Ecology, Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

    J Hong, R R Smith, A E Harvey & N P Núñez

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Correspondence to N P Núñez.

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Hong, J., Smith, R., Harvey, A. et al. Alcohol consumption promotes insulin sensitivity without affecting body fat levels. Int J Obes 33, 197–203 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2008.266

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