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Association between alcohol consumption and serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate concentration in men with Type 2 diabetes: a link to decreased cardiovascular risk
Author(s) -
Fukui M.,
Kitagawa Y.,
Nakamura N.,
Kadono M.,
Hasegawa G.,
Yoshikawa T.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
diabetic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.474
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1464-5491
pISSN - 0742-3071
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2005.01629.x
Subject(s) - medicine , alcohol consumption , diabetes mellitus , type 2 diabetes , alcohol , endocrinology , dehydroepiandrosterone , dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate , ethanol , androgen , hormone , biochemistry , chemistry , organic chemistry
Aims Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with Type 2 diabetes. Both light‐to‐moderate alcohol consumption and higher serum concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) are associated with reduced CVD mortality, raising the possibility of DHEA as a causal intermediate in CVD and alcohol consumption. Methods Relationships between alcohol consumption and serum DHEA sulphate (DHEA‐S) concentration, carotid atherosclerosis as evaluated by carotid ultrasonography and major cardiovascular risk factors were investigated in 404 consecutive men with Type 2 diabetes. Patients were divided into three groups according to mean ethanol consumption per week: non‐drinkers, light‐to‐moderate drinkers (< 210 g per week) or heavy drinkers (≥ 210 g per week). Results Plasma HDL‐cholesterol was positively associated with the degree of alcohol consumption. Intima‐media thickness (0.92 ± 0.21 vs. 1.09 ± 0.35 mm, P < 0.0001) and plaque score (3.0 ± 3.3 vs. 5.2 ± 4.9, P = 0.008) were lower in light‐to‐moderate drinkers than in non‐drinkers. Serum DHEA‐S concentrations were higher in light‐to‐moderate drinkers (1264.2 ± 592.2 ng/ml, P < 0.0001) and heavy drinkers (1176.2 ± 607.6 ng/ml, P = 0.0100) than in non‐drinkers (956.8 ± 538.6 ng/ml). In a subgroup aged 60–75‐year‐old patients ( n = 277), serum DHEA‐S concentrations were higher in light‐to‐moderate drinkers (1126.8 ± 502.5 ng/ml, P = 0.0121) than in non‐drinkers (937.9 ± 505.1 ng/ml). Also, in a subgroup without CVD ( n = 339), serum DHEA‐S concentrations were higher in light‐to‐moderate drinkers (1328.5 ± 593.7 ng/ml, P < 0.0001) than in non‐drinkers (970.1 ± 540.7 ng/ml). Conclusions Higher serum DHEA‐S concentrations in light‐to‐moderate drinkers may represent part of the link between light‐to‐moderate alcohol consumption and lower CVD mortality.