Acute effects of traditional Japanese alcohol beverages on blood glucose and polysomnography levels in healthy subjects

Abstract

Background.Alcohol consumption is a lifestyle factor associated with type 2 diabetes. This relationship is reportedly different depending on the type of alcohol beverage. The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of traditional Japanese alcohol beverages on biochemical parameters, physical and emotional state, and sleep patterns.Methods.Six healthy subjects (three men and three women; age, 28.8 ± 9.5 years; body mass index, 21.4 ± 1.6 kg/m2) consumed three different types of alcohol beverages (beer,shochu, andsake, each with 40 g ethanol) or mineral water with dinner on different days in the hospital. Blood samples were collected before and 1, 2, and 12 h after drinking each beverage, and assessments of physical and emotional state were administered at the same time. In addition, sleep patterns and brain waves were examined using polysomnography.Results.Blood glucose levels at 1 h and the 12-h area under the curve (AUC) value after drinkingshochuwere significantly lower than that with water and beer. The 12-h blood insulin AUC value after drinkingshochuwas significantly lower than that with beer. Blood glucose × insulin level at 1 h and the 2-h blood glucose × insulin AUC value withshochuwere significantly lower than that with beer. The insulinogenic indexes at 2 h with beer andsake, but notshochu, were significantly higher than that with water. The visual analogue scale scores of physical and emotional state showed that the tipsiness levels with beer,shochu, andsakeat 1 h were significantly higher than that with water. These tipsiness levels were maintained at 2 h. The polysomnography showed that the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep latency withshochuandsakewere shorter than that with water and beer.Conclusions.Acute consumption of alcohol beverages with a meal resulted in different responses in postprandial glucose and insulin levels as well as REM sleep latency. Alcohol beverage type should be taken into consideration for people with impaired glucose tolerance.