Why do some people get serious liver disease from drinking a few glasses of alcohol each day while others don’t? A new study from Keck Medicine of USC offers some insight. It suggests that three medical conditions—diabetes, high blood pressure, and having a large waistline—can increase the risk of developing advanced liver disease in heavy drinkers.
Dr. Brian P. Lee, a liver specialist, points out that the study identifies a group of people who are especially vulnerable to liver problems. These conditions can significantly affect how alcohol impacts the liver.
Diabetes, high blood pressure, and a waist circumference of 35 inches or more for women and 40 inches or more for men are linked to what is called cardiometabolic risk factors. These factors not only heighten the risk of heart issues but also contribute to fat buildup in the liver. This condition can lead to liver fibrosis, which is scarring of the liver.
Alarmingly, more than one in three Americans struggle with these cardiometabolic issues. Dr. Lee notes that this trend is getting worse, particularly among younger people under 35. At the same time, alcohol consumption has increased, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, involving over 40,000 participants. They focused on the relationship between heavy drinking, cardiometabolic risk factors, and the likelihood of severe liver scarring. For the study, heavy drinking was defined as 1.5 drinks per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
The findings were striking. Heavy drinkers with diabetes or a high waist circumference were 2.4 times more likely to develop significant liver disease. Those with high blood pressure had a 1.8 times greater risk. The other cardiometabolic risk factors, like high triglycerides and low HDL (the “good” cholesterol), showed less dramatic connections to liver issues.
While the study doesn’t fully explain why these three conditions pose greater dangers to the liver, Dr. Lee speculates that they might lead to a similar fat buildup in the liver. This, combined with fat from alcohol, can cause notable damage.
It’s crucial to understand that this study doesn’t mean people without these health concerns can drink alcohol freely. Dr. Lee warns that alcohol is harmful to the liver, and all heavy drinkers face the risk of advanced liver disease.
Dr. Lee hopes this research encourages individuals to evaluate their health and risks when considering alcohol consumption. He believes healthcare providers should offer more tailored screenings and interventions for those who drink and have existing health issues. This approach could help identify liver damage early and improve treatment outcomes.
Dr. Norah Terrault, another study author and a gastroenterologist at Keck Medicine, also contributed to these important findings.
For more on this topic, you can check out the University of Southern California’s coverage of the study here.
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Liver, Liver Disease, Alcohol, Blood, Blood Pressure, Cardiometabolic, Diabetes, Fibrosis, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, High Blood Pressure, Liver Transplant, Medicine, Research, Transplant
