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	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 123 words of the full text and any section headings.

Dr Wannamethee and colleagues¹ found that light to moderate alcohol consumption was inversely associated with risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus among younger women. However, among the plausible explanations of this beneficial effect, they did not mention the anti-inflammatory action of alcohol.

Moderate alcohol consumption has been documented to be associated with lower levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a sensitive marker of systemic inflammation, independent of ethanol-related effects on lipids.² Furthermore, several prospective studies have shown that CRP levels additionally predict incident type 2 diabetes mellitus in men and women,^3-5 supporting a possible role for inflammation for diabetogenesis. Therefore, an anti-inflammatory action of alcohol may help explain the link between light to moderate alcohol consumption and lower risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Luca Mascitelli, MD
Udine, Italy

Francesca Pezzetta, MD
Gemona del Friuli, Italy

1. Wannamethee SG, Camargo CA, Manson JE, Willet WC, Rimm EB. Alcohol drinking patterns and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus among younger women. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:1329-1336. FREE FULL TEXT 2. Albert MA, Glynn RJ, Ridker PM. Alcohol consumption and plasma concentration of C-reactive protein. Circulation. 2003;107:443-447. FREE FULL TEXT 3. Pradhan AD, Manson JE, Rifai N, Buring JE, Ridker PM. C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, and risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. JAMA. 2001;286:327-334. FREE FULL TEXT 4. Barzilay JI, Abraham L, Heckbert SR, et al. The relation of markers of inflammation to the development of glucose disorders in the elderly: the Cardiovascular Health Study. Diabetes. 2001;50:2384-2389. FREE FULL TEXT 5. Freeman DJ, Norrie J, Caslake MJ, et al. C-reactive protein is an independent predictor of risk for the development of diabetes in the West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study. Diabetes. 2002;51:1596-1600. FREE FULL TEXT

Arch Intern Med. 2004;164:572.

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