A prospective study of drinking patterns in relation to risk of type 2 diabetes among men

Using data from a 12-year prospective study, we determined the importance o f the pattern of alcohol consumption as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes i n a cohort of 46,892 U.S. male health professionals who completed biennial postal questionnaires. Overall, 1,571 new cases of type 2 diabetes were doc umented. Compared with zero alcohol consumption, consumption of 15-29 g/day of alcohol was associated with a 36% lower risk of diabetes (RR = 0.64; 95 % CI 0.53-0.77). This inverse association between moderate consumption and diabetes remained if light drinkers rather than abstainers were used as the reference group (RR = 0.60, CI 0.50-0.73). There were few heavy drinkers, but the inverse association persisted to those drinking greater than or equ al to 50 g/day of alcohol (RR = 0.60, Cl 0.43-0.84). Frequency of consumpti on was inversely associated with diabetes. Consumption of alcohol on at lea st 5 days/week provided the greatest protection, even when less than one dr ink per drinking day was consumed (RR = 0.48, Cl 0.27-0.86). Compared with infrequent drinkers, for each additional day per week that alcohol was cons umed, risk was reduced by 7% (95% Cl 3-10%) after controlling for average d aily consumption. There were similar and independent inverse associations f or beer, liquor, and white wine. Our findings suggested that frequent alcoh ol consumption conveys the greatest protection against type 2 diabetes, eve n if the level of consumption per drinking day is low. Beverage choice did not alter risk.