Hormonal
Regular consumption of low to moderate amounts of alcohol (1-99 g/day) improves insulin sensitivity, evidenced by significantly lower fasting and post-glucose insulin concentrations and reduced insulin resistance compared to abstainers.
If you drink alcohol moderately (up to ~3-4 standard drinks per day), it may help your body handle insulin better than if you abstained completely. However, this does not mean you should start drinking for health reasons, as heavy drinking has severe negative health consequences. Focus on maintaining a healthy weight and staying active, as these factors have a larger impact on insulin sensitivity than alcohol.
Low to moderate amounts of alcohol, when taken on a regular basis, improve insulin sensitivity.
Why this rating
Large, prospective, cross-sectional population study with high participation rates and adjustment for multiple confounders.
Source
Insulin sensitivity and regular alcohol consumption: large, prospective, cross sectional population study (Bruneck study)
Stefan Kiechl et al. · BMJ · 1996
DOI 10.1136/bmj.313.7064.1040
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