A study carried out by researchers at Tulane University, in New Orleans (USA), showed that the incidence of type 2 diabetes is 12% lower among people who consume alcoholic beverages during meals, in a moderate way, when compared to those who drink outside of those moments. According to the research, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, among the drinks that most brought this benefit, was wine.
For about 10 years, researchers analyzed more than 300,000 people who consumed alcoholic beverages without type 2 diabetes, who were registered in the UK Biobank database. Through a questionnaire about the consumption of alcoholic beverages, scoring the frequency, amount, type of drink and consumption during meals, the researchers were able to monitor the habits of the evaluated patients. After adjusting the variables, they were able to verify that, during this period, 8,598 cases of the disease were registered.
Compared with participants who consumed alcohol outside of meals or who had varying patterns, those who drank with meals were more likely to be older and female; ex-smokers; have healthier diets; with lower BMI (body mass index). This portion also showed that, although alcohol consumption during meals showed a lower intake of the beverage in general, consumption was more regular, going from three times a week, with a preference for wine.
The researchers were able to observe that those who had frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages during meals were associated with a lower level of glycated hemoglobin, a rate that measures the glycemic level in the long term, and better rates of HDL, known as the “good cholesterol”. “.
Another discovery was that, while the consumption of wine reduced the incidence of diabetes, the consumption of beers and liquors were associated with an increased chance of developing the condition.
“The beneficial association of moderate alcohol consumption with risk of type 2 diabetes was seen only in participants who consumed alcohol with meals, but not in others,” the study states.