NEW YORK: A new study has found that drinking alcohol significantly increases the risk of serious liver damage, particularly for individuals with pre-existing conditions like obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
The study, published recently in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, highlights how these conditions, when combined with alcohol consumption, may more than double the likelihood of developing severe liver problems.
The research found that people with belly fat or diabetes who drink more than moderate amounts of alcohol were more than twice as likely to develop liver scarring or damage.
Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of cardiovascular prevention and wellness at National Health in Denver, Colorado, who was not involved in the study, stressed the importance of these findings.
He pointed out that individuals often make unhealthy choices, especially during events such as sports gatherings, when processed meats and high-fat foods are commonly consumed.
Freeman explained, “People are going to do exactly what they shouldn’t do, and poison themselves. Particularly during big events, people will eat things like hot dogs, sausage, bacon, pepperoni, and ham — and these processed meats are in the same category as cigarettes for cancer risk.”
The study revealed that people with a waist measurement of 35 inches or more for women and 40 inches or more for men, often indicative of obesity, face heightened risk.
These conditions, along with high blood sugar and elevated blood pressure, are linked to the accumulation of fat in the liver, potentially leading to fibrosis, or scarring of the liver.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly half of all Americans suffer from high blood pressure, over a third have pre-diabetes, and around 40% of the population is classified as obese.
These factors contribute to fatty liver disease, which can progress to cirrhosis, increasing the risk of liver failure and liver cancer.
Lead study author Dr. Brian Lee, an associate professor of clinical medicine at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine, emphasised the study’s findings on the significant impact of pre-existing health conditions on liver health.
He said in a CNN report, “The results identify a very high-risk segment of the population prone to liver disease and suggest that preexisting health issues may have a large impact on how alcohol affects the liver.”
However, Dr. Lee also warned that even individuals without a large waistline, high blood pressure, or diabetes are still at risk of liver damage from excessive alcohol consumption. “We know that alcohol is toxic to the liver and all heavy drinkers are at risk for advanced liver disease,” he stated.
A standard drink in the US is defined as 0.6 ounces (14 grams) of pure liquor. That’s equivalent to 5 ounces of wine with 12 percent alcohol, a 12-ounce can of beer that is 5 percent alcohol or 1.5 ounces (one shot) of liquor (80 proof) or distilled spirts.
Study leader Lee also noted that the double whammy of alcohol and fatty deposits in the liver may explain why heavy drinkers with chronic conditions were found to be at the highest risk for liver damage.
Plus, alcohol alone is known to damage liver cells, leading to inflammation and scarring, which can progress to cirrhosis or liver cancer over time.
Just because a person may not have a big belly, high blood pressure or diabetes does not mean that heavy drinking is safe, he added.
“We know that alcohol is toxic to the liver and all heavy drinkers are at risk for advanced liver disease,” Lee said.
