Low alcohol consumption increases the risk of impaired glucose tolerance in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

Background

Fatty liver disease is associated with glucose intolerance and hepatic insulin resistance. However, there are distinct etiologies for alcoholic versus non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and it is unknown whether alcohol consumption influences the onset of glucose intolerance in fatty liver disease patients. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between fatty liver disease and the onset of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) with respect to alcohol consumption.

Methods

The records of 6804 Japanese subjects were reviewed to identify those meeting the criteria for IFG. Male and female subjects were classified into five and four groups, respectively, based on average alcohol consumption (g/week). IFG onset was defined as fasting plasma glucose levels ≥110 mg/dl.

Results

In the non-drinker, >0–70 g/week, >70–140 g/week, >140–210 g/week (men only), and >210 g/week (men only) or >140 g/week (women only) groups, 7.3, 6.7, 6.4, 9, and 6.4 % of men and 2, 1.7, 3.1, and 3.2 % of women, respectively, developed IFG. Fatty liver was positively associated with the onset of IFG in men of the >0–70 g/week group (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.808; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.605–5.049, p < 0.001) and women of the >70–140 g/week group (aHR, 4.193; 95 % CI, 1.036–14.584, p = 0.045) after adjusting for previously reported IFG risk factors. No associations were observed in the other groups.

Conclusions

A small amount of alcohol consumption is a significant risk factor for the onset of IFG in NAFLD patients; onset risk differs according to the amount of alcohol consumption.

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