Potentiation of the Plasma Insulin Response to Glucose by Prior Administration of Alcohol: An Apparent Islet-Priming Effect

Abstract

Ethyl alcohol which has been reported to be without effect on insulin secretion apparently modifies beta-cell function nevertheless, as indicated by the plasma insulin responses to glucose loading after prior administration of alcohol. Glucose was injected intravenously in nine young adults on three separate occasions at intervals of at least two weeks. During the twelve hours preceding each test the subjects received ethanol either by mouth or by vein or, as a control, no ethanol. Plasma insulin and glucose concentrations were not noticeably affected by the ethanol alone but alcohol pretreatment was followed in all instances by heightened plasma insulin responses to the glycemic pulse stimulus and by accelerated rates of plasma glucose disappearance. The mean plasma insulin response was increased 50 per cent by the alcohol, irrespective of the route of administration. Unlike recognized insulin secretogogues, therefore, ethanol appears to augment insulin secretion only on demand. The route of administration appeared not to be a factor in determining the magnitude of the alcohol effect. Other alcohol effects included blunting of the plasma pyruvate and exaggeration of the plasma lactate elevations after glucose.

Isolation of ethanol-induced genes in pancreatic β-cells by representational difference analysis (RDA)

“…Previous reports have shown that ethanol exerts an inhibitory effect on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in isolated rat islets (Patel and Singh, 1979) or in perfused rat pancreata (Tiengo et al, 1981), but these findings were quite contradictory to the similar studies on human (Metz et al, 1969;Friedenberg et al, 1971;Kuhl and Anderson, 1974): Ethanol augmented glucose-stimulated insulin secretion termed as 'ethanol priming effect' in the human (Metz et al, 1969). Recently, our results suggest that the ethanol priming effect on insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells might be caused by overwork in order to compensate for the inhibited basal insulin secretion by ethanol (Shin et al, 2002).…”

Cross-sectional association between total level and type of alcohol consumption and glycosylated haemoglobin level: the EPIC-Norfolk Study

“…Studies have reported that light to moderate alcohol consumption is associated with lower insulin resistance (Facchini et al, 1994;Flanagan et al, 2000;Lazarus et al, 1997;Mayer et al, 1993). Acute insulin secretion and glucose disposal rates are enhanced after moderate alcohol intake (McMonagle & Felig, 1975;Metz et al, 1969). However, heavy alcohol drinkers have decreased glucose tolerance and are at higher risk of diabetes (Lindegard & Langman, 1985).…”

Associations between alcohol consumption and insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular disease risk factors: the Insulin Resistance and Atherosclerosis Study.

“…Biologically, acute alcohol consumption has been shown to affect insulin action. Some studies have shown that relatively large doses of alcohol acutely impair insulin-mediated glucose uptake (44,45), whereas others have shown an enhanced effect on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (46). Some studies have also reported that acute alcohol consumption results in an initial hyperinsulinemic effect followed by a hypoinsulinemic and/or hypoglycemic effect (47,48).…”