Ameliorative Effects of Alcohol on Human Diabetic Volunteers – A Prospective Study

Aims: The purpose of this study is to assess and confirm the ameliorative effects of alcohol consumption on biochemical indices of blood i.e., blood glucose, HbA1c, NO2, NO3, lipid profiles, hs-CRP (high sensitive C–Reactive protein) and membrane lipid peroxidation of diabetics.
Study Design: Pre-clinical and Biochemical experimental study.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, Acharya Nagarjuna University and Dept. of Biotechnology, K L University, Guntur, A.P and Dept. of Biochemistry, Katuri Medical College, Katuri Nagar, Guntur, A.P and Dept. of Biochemistry, Sri Krishna Devaraya University, Anantapur, A.P and Dept. of Basic Sciences, Madanapalle Institute of Technology and Science (MITS), Post Box No: 14, Angallu (V), Madanapalle, A. P., India, during 2008– 2013.
Methodology: The study is conducted on 4 groups (n= 1200) of people of different ages ranging from 35 to 50 years at community health centers in Prakasam, Warangal, Srikakulam districts of Andhra Pradesh, India. The first group consists of type-II diabetic patients who have been consuming alcohol (arithmetic mean ranging from 14.16 to 31.61ml/day) moderately for the past 3 to 10 years. The second group consists of non-diabetic, moderately alcohol consuming healthy individuals. The third group consists of patients who are type-II diabetics (who do not drink) taking medical treatment for minimum period of 1 year. The fourth group consists of non-drinking, non-diabetic healthy individuals. Relationships of alcohol intake with lipid profile, hs-CRP and HBA1c are compared among the three groups.
Results: In lipid profile analysis of moderately drinking diabetic group, the HDL levels are found to be higher while the remaining factors such as total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL (P<0.05), triglycerides (P<0.01) and membrane lipid peroxidation are significantly lower. Fasting serum glucose levels are lowered, while serum nitrites and nitrates are found to be significantly higher. These differences are not found in abstainers group and Diabetic group who do not drink.
Conclusion: Moderate consumption of alcohol in diabetic individuals is found to have an inverse association with the risky factors like LDL cholesterol, Triglycerides, etc. that are the etiological factors for some of the sequelae of diabetes mellitus i.e., coronary heart diseases, Retinopathy, etc. and has a direct association with the positive factors such as HDL and nitric oxide production. Experimental results are very significant and indicate that moderate consumption of alcohol has ameliorative effects on diabetics.