Postprandial Insulin Secretion and Appetite Regulation After Moderate Alcohol Consumption

A body of epidemiologic studies show that moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a protective effect against type 2 diabetes. The importance of both insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion in the pathogenesis of glucose intolerance and diabetes type 2 is widely recognized. Clinical studies show improved insulin sensitivity after a period of alcohol consumption compared to abstention. However, postprandial insulin secretion and beta-cell function after a period of moderate alcohol consumption have scarcely been addressed in published literature. When consumed as an aperitif or with a meal, alcohol is generally expected to stimulate appetite and food intake and thus might be a risk factor for over consumption and obesity. However the physiological mechanisms for this observed effect are not well understood. Furthermore, previous studies lacked a link between physiological parameters and subjective parameters of satiety.