Top in GI: Non-heavy alcohol use and liver disease risk; new celiac disease guidance

The link between heavy drinking and chronic liver disease has been well established, but less is known about how non-heavy alcohol use affects the liver, according to researchers.

A new study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology has found that even non-heavy alcohol use may increase the risk for liver fibrosis and at-risk nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, “which both predict long-term liver-related morbidity and mortality,” Brooke A. Rice, MD, an internal medicine specialist at Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine, told Healio. It was the top story in gastroenterology last week.

Another top story was about updated guidance from the American College of Gastroenterology on the evaluation, diagnosis and management of celiac disease.

Read these and more top stories in gastroenterology below:

Non-heavy alcohol use, total weekly consumption linked to fibrosis, NASH

Non-heavy alcohol consumption was associated with fibrosis and at-risk nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, prompting researchers to suggest that current fatty liver disease categorization as alcoholic or nonalcoholic may be “misleading.” Read more.

ACG updates guidance for celiac disease diagnosis, management in children, adults

The ACG has published updated guidelines for the evaluation, diagnosis and management of children and adults with celiac disease. Read more.

Burning Rock secures FDA breakthrough device designation for multicancer blood test

The FDA has granted breakthrough device designation to Burning Rock’s OverC multicancer blood test for early detection of esophageal, liver, lung, ovarian and pancreatic cancers, according to a company press release. Read more.

Frequent antibiotic use raises risk for IBD, particularly in older adults

Antibiotic exposure was associated with an increased and cumulative risk for inflammatory bowel disease and was highest among individuals aged 40 years and older, according to results from a Danish study published in Gut. Read more.

Acupuncture may improve abdominal pain in IBS-D

Specific and nonspecific acupoint acupuncture improved symptoms of diarrhea among a small subset of patients with irritable bowel syndrome, according to results from a pilot study reported in JAMA Network Open. Read more.