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The effect of moderate alcohol consumption on adiponectin oligomers and muscle oxidative capacity: a human intervention study

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Abstract

Aims/hypothesis

The aim of this study was to investigate whether moderate alcohol consumption increases plasma high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin and/or muscle oxidative capacity.

Materials and methods

Eleven lean (BMI 18–25 kg/m2) and eight overweight (BMI ≥27 kg/m2) men consumed 100 ml whisky (∼32 g alcohol) or water daily for 4 weeks in a randomised, controlled, crossover trial. After each treatment period, muscle biopsies and fasting blood samples were collected.

Results

Adiponectin concentrations increased (p < 0.001) by 12.5% after 4 weeks of moderate alcohol consumption. Moderate alcohol consumption tended to increase HMW adiponectin by 57% (p = 0.07) and medium molecular weight adiponectin by 12.5% (p = 0.07), but not low molecular weight (LMW) adiponectin. Skeletal muscle citrate synthase, cytochrome c oxidase and β-3-hydroxyacyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase (β-HAD) activity were not changed after moderate alcohol consumption, but an interaction between alcohol consumption and BMI was observed for cytochrome c oxidase (p = 0.072) and citrate synthase (p = 0.102) activity. Among lean men, moderate alcohol consumption tended to increase cytochrome c oxidase (p = 0.08) and citrate synthase activity (p = 0.12) by 23 and 26%, respectively, but not among overweight men. In particular, plasma HMW adiponectin correlated positively with activities of skeletal muscle citrate synthase (r = 0.64, p = 0.009), cytochrome c oxidase (p = 0.59, p = 0.009) and β-HAD (r = 0.46, p = 0.056), while such correlation was not present for LMW adiponectin. Whole-body insulin sensitivity and intramyocellular triacylglycerol content were not affected by moderate alcohol consumption.

Conclusions/interpretation

Moderate alcohol consumption increases adiponectin concentrations, and in particular HMW adiponectin. Concentrations of HMW adiponectin in particular were positively associated with skeletal muscle oxidative capacity.

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Abbreviations

β-HAD:

β-3-hydroxyacyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase

HMW:

high molecular weight

IMTG:

intramyocellular triacylglycerol

LMW:

low molecular weight

MMW:

medium molecular weight

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Acknowledgements

The skilful help of R. Koopman, M. Brouwers and A. Georgieva is gratefully acknowledged. We thank the volunteers for their enthusiastic participation. The research described in this paper was funded by the Dutch Foundation for Alcohol Research.

Duality of interest

The authors have no duality of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. TNO Quality of Life, Business Unit Biosciences, Utrechtseweg 48, 3704 HE Zeist, P.O. Box 360, 3700 AJ, Zeist, The Netherlands

    J. W. J. Beulens & H. F. J. Hendriks

  2. Department of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    J. W. J. Beulens & F. J. Kok

  3. Department of Movement Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    L. J. C. van Loon & M. Pelsers

  4. Department of Clinical Nutrition, German Institute of Human Nutrition Postdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany

    T. Bobbert & J. Spranger

  5. Department of Endocrinology Diabetes and Nutrition, Charité-University Medical School Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    T. Bobbert & J. Spranger

  6. Alcohol Laboratory, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

    A. Helander

Authors
  1. J. W. J. Beulens
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  2. L. J. C. van Loon
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  3. F. J. Kok
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  4. M. Pelsers
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  5. T. Bobbert
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  6. J. Spranger
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  7. A. Helander
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  8. H. F. J. Hendriks
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. F. J. Hendriks.

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Beulens, J.W.J., van Loon, L.J.C., Kok, F.J. et al. The effect of moderate alcohol consumption on adiponectin oligomers and muscle oxidative capacity: a human intervention study. Diabetologia 50, 1388–1392 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-007-0699-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-007-0699-8

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