Alcohol Consumption Appears to Protect Against NAFLD
Alcohol Consumption Appears to Protect Against NAFLD
Background Moderate alcohol consumption may have certain beneficial effects against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which is associated with metabolic syndrome.
Aim To determine the association between drinking pattern and fatty liver in Japanese men and women.
Methods A cross-sectional study was performed with health checkup data including information concerning alcohol consumption and ultrasonographic assessment of fatty liver.
Results We analysed 4957 men and 2155 women without reported liver diseases (median age, 49 years). In men, 40% of nondrinkers and 28% of drinkers had fatty liver. Alcohol consumption was inversely associated with fatty liver (adjusted odds ratio, 0.54; 95% confidence interval, 0.46–0.63). The prevalence of fatty liver in each category of drinking frequency was 38% (1–3 days/week), 29% (4–6 days/week), and 24% (daily drinking); there was a significant inverse correlation between drinking frequency and the prevalence of fatty liver (P < 0.001). In women, 16% of nondrinkers and 10% of drinkers had fatty liver. Drinking less than 20 g on 1–3 days/week was associated with low prevalence of fatty liver (adjusted odds ratio, 0.47; 95% confidence interval, 0.23–0.96).
Conclusions Alcohol consumption appears to protect against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Many studies have demonstrated that moderate alcohol consumption promotes health. For example, alcohol consumption of a certain amount and frequency prevents the development of diabetes mellitus, reduces the risk of coronary heart disease and elevates high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and adiponectin levels. These healthy contributions of alcohol consumption appear equivalent to a reduction in the risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Improved insulin sensitivity by alcohol consumption may be responsible for ameliorating metabolic syndrome, since insulin resistance is a key component of metabolic syndrome.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is also a feature of metabolic syndrome in the liver. Recent studies have suggested an inverse association between light to moderate alcohol consumption and the likelihood of NAFLD. An analysis of a limited number of morbidly obese subjects suggested that moderate alcohol consumption reduced the likelihood of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Other studies performed on a large, general population have also revealed an inverse association between alcohol or wine consumption and unexplained hypertransaminasemia. Furthermore, a cross-sectional study on a general population revealed an inverse association of light to moderate alcohol consumption with ultrasonographically determined fatty liver. These studies indicate that light to moderate alcohol consumption may have a beneficial effect on NAFLD.
On the other hand, excessive alcohol consumption causes alcoholic liver injury, and the molecular mechanisms of alcoholic fatty liver have been indicated. Therefore, the beneficial effect of alcohol consumption on the liver has not been sufficiently studied and the details remain unclear. Whether the amount (light to moderate), frequency or both of alcohol consumption are responsible for the beneficial effect on NAFLD development is unknown, although the association of drinking pattern with the risk of disease progression has been reported in other metabolic syndrome-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes or coronary heart disease. In addition, no studies have assessed the association between alcohol consumption and fatty liver in women alone. The previous reports on the inverse association between alcohol consumption and NAFLD involved only men or a combination of men and women, therefore those results may not apply to women alone due to sex differences in alcohol pharmacokinetics. Actually, there is a sex difference in the association of drinking pattern and the risk of coronary heart disease. The current study investigated the association of drinking pattern with fatty liver in men and in women, separately.
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Background Moderate alcohol consumption may have certain beneficial effects against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which is associated with metabolic syndrome.
Aim To determine the association between drinking pattern and fatty liver in Japanese men and women.
Methods A cross-sectional study was performed with health checkup data including information concerning alcohol consumption and ultrasonographic assessment of fatty liver.
Results We analysed 4957 men and 2155 women without reported liver diseases (median age, 49 years). In men, 40% of nondrinkers and 28% of drinkers had fatty liver. Alcohol consumption was inversely associated with fatty liver (adjusted odds ratio, 0.54; 95% confidence interval, 0.46–0.63). The prevalence of fatty liver in each category of drinking frequency was 38% (1–3 days/week), 29% (4–6 days/week), and 24% (daily drinking); there was a significant inverse correlation between drinking frequency and the prevalence of fatty liver (P < 0.001). In women, 16% of nondrinkers and 10% of drinkers had fatty liver. Drinking less than 20 g on 1–3 days/week was associated with low prevalence of fatty liver (adjusted odds ratio, 0.47; 95% confidence interval, 0.23–0.96).
Conclusions Alcohol consumption appears to protect against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Introduction
Many studies have demonstrated that moderate alcohol consumption promotes health. For example, alcohol consumption of a certain amount and frequency prevents the development of diabetes mellitus, reduces the risk of coronary heart disease and elevates high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and adiponectin levels. These healthy contributions of alcohol consumption appear equivalent to a reduction in the risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Improved insulin sensitivity by alcohol consumption may be responsible for ameliorating metabolic syndrome, since insulin resistance is a key component of metabolic syndrome.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is also a feature of metabolic syndrome in the liver. Recent studies have suggested an inverse association between light to moderate alcohol consumption and the likelihood of NAFLD. An analysis of a limited number of morbidly obese subjects suggested that moderate alcohol consumption reduced the likelihood of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Other studies performed on a large, general population have also revealed an inverse association between alcohol or wine consumption and unexplained hypertransaminasemia. Furthermore, a cross-sectional study on a general population revealed an inverse association of light to moderate alcohol consumption with ultrasonographically determined fatty liver. These studies indicate that light to moderate alcohol consumption may have a beneficial effect on NAFLD.
On the other hand, excessive alcohol consumption causes alcoholic liver injury, and the molecular mechanisms of alcoholic fatty liver have been indicated. Therefore, the beneficial effect of alcohol consumption on the liver has not been sufficiently studied and the details remain unclear. Whether the amount (light to moderate), frequency or both of alcohol consumption are responsible for the beneficial effect on NAFLD development is unknown, although the association of drinking pattern with the risk of disease progression has been reported in other metabolic syndrome-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes or coronary heart disease. In addition, no studies have assessed the association between alcohol consumption and fatty liver in women alone. The previous reports on the inverse association between alcohol consumption and NAFLD involved only men or a combination of men and women, therefore those results may not apply to women alone due to sex differences in alcohol pharmacokinetics. Actually, there is a sex difference in the association of drinking pattern and the risk of coronary heart disease. The current study investigated the association of drinking pattern with fatty liver in men and in women, separately.
