The Relationship Between Alcohol Consumption, BMI, and Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-analysis
Authors' conclusion
The observed reduced risk seems to be specific to women in general and women with a BMI ≥25 kg/m2. Our findings allow for a more precise prediction of the sex-specific relationship between T2DM and alcohol use, as our results differ from those of previous studies.
Study context
- Population
- Men and women in cohort studies on alcohol use and T2D; 89,983 men and 57,974 women diagnosed with T2D55 studies + 1 secondary data source
- Comparison
- Alcohol consumption vs lifetime abstention
- Outcome
- Dose-response relationship between alcohol consumption and T2D, by sex and BMI
Methodological detailsmultivariate dose-response random-effect models, stratified by sex and BMI, Relied on aggregate data; some studies used self-reported exposure and cases; no account of temporal variation in alcohol use
- Multivariate dose-response random-effect models
- Stratified by sex and BMI
- Relied on aggregate data; some studies used self-reported exposure and cases; no account of temporal variation in alcohol use
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
T2D risk, women
Alcohol intake vs Lifetime abstainersRelative risk (95% CI)
Women, 16 g/day; maximum risk reduction of 31%; J-shaped relationship
0.69(0.64–0.74)
Women, 49 g/day; protective association ceased above 49 g/day
0.82(0.68–0.99)
Further pooled results
T2D risk stratified by BMI
- Protective association only in overweight and obese women
Original publication
The Relationship Between Alcohol Consumption, BMI, and Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-analysis. Diabetes Care. Published 27 October 2023. doi:10.
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