Relationship between response of gamma-glutamyltransferase to alcohol consumption and levels of fasting plasma glucose.

To examine whether the response of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) to alcohol consumption differs among individuals, a cross-sectional study was conducted in 6100 men with a body-mass index below 24 who did not take medication for diabetes. Information regarding current medication and lifestyle habits was obtained by a self-reported questionnaire. The subjects were divided into four groups according to their level of alcohol consumption: non-drinkers, light drinkers (1-188ml/week), intermediate drinkers (189-377ml/week), and heavy drinkers (>or=378ml/week). The frequency of subjects with an FPG of 110mg/dl or more rose significantly as alcohol consumption increased, from 6.7% in non-drinkers to 10.1% in intermediate drinkers and 12.1% in heavy drinkers. In contrast, when only the subjects with a gamma-glutamyltransferase level of less than 40IU/L were analyzed, no difference was observed in the frequency of subjects with an FPG level of 110mg/dl or more among the four groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis also revealed similar results. The findings suggested individual variability in the response of FPG to drinking. Appropriate levels of drinking could be different among individuals.