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Alcohol consumption may protect against fatty liver

Alcohol consumption, even in excessive amounts, may protect most individuals against fatty liver over time, according to data published in the Journal of Hepatology.

“In a previous study, we demonstrated that the prevalence of fatty liver in drinkers is directly associated with the amount of alcohol consumed and inversely associated with the alcohol consumption frequency,” the researchers wrote. “We hypothesized that drinking pattern might also influence the development and/or remission of fatty liver and aimed to test it in the present study.”

Researchers analyzed data of 5,297 Japanese patients (3,773 men, 1,524 women) who participated in a baseline study in 2003 and followed up at least once between 2004 and 2006, in an effort to determine if there was any association between drinking pattern and fatty liver by ultrasonography, according to the research.

At baseline, 31.2% of men and 15.4% of women had fatty liver and 74.2% of men and 28.6% of women consumed alcohol. At the most recent follow-up, 13.4% of men and 7.8% of women had recently diagnosed fatty liver, whereas 24.2% of men and 29.8% of women were in remission of fatty liver. Alcohol consumption between 0.1 g and 279.9 g of alcohol per week, or more than 280 g per week among men was inversely associated with fatty liver after adjusting for numerous variables, including obesity, smoking and exercise. Alcohol consumption between 0.1 g and 139.9 g of alcohol per week among women was inversely associated with fatty liver, after adjustments, according to the research.

“The present longitudinal study of a general population demonstrated that all observed patterns of alcohol consumption in men and light to moderate or frequent alcohol consumption in women were likely to protect against fatty liver,” the researchers concluded. “As a result, it is not necessary to forbid alcohol consumption just because an individual has fatty liver. On the other hand, the results demonstrated in the present study do not suggest the safeness of alcohol consumption for everyone. Whether patients with fatty liver should be able to drink some alcohol or not should be carefully considered for each individual.” – by Melinda Stevens

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.