Excessive alcohol consumption in a short period (one Evening) is worse for the liver than if the drinks are spread out over the week, especially if you have type 2 diabetes or a genetic predisposition to alcohol-related cirrhosis. These are the conclusions of a study by University College London (UCL), the Royal Free Hospital, and the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
Alcohol Abuse
Binge Drinking has the most negative impact on the liver
The researchers’ work, published in Nature Communications, shows that the way alcohol is consumed is a more accurate indicator of the risk of liver disease, such as cirrhosis, than the total amount consumed. The team analyzed the records of 312,599 active adult drinkers from the UK Biobank cohort to assess the impact of drinking patterns, genetic predisposition, and type 2 diabetes on the likelihood of developing alcoholic cirrhosis.
The results showed that people who indulged in binge drinking (at least 12 units of alcohol) at some point during a week were three times more likely to develop cirrhosis than those who drank that amount over 7 days. People with a high genetic predisposition were four times more likely to develop cirrhosis. Type 2 diabetics who drank a lot of alcohol in a short period were twice as likely to develop liver disease.
“When excessive alcohol consumption and a high genetic predisposition were involved, the risk of developing alcohol-related cirrhosis was six times higher than the baseline risk. The addition of type 2 diabetes also led to an even higher risk,” says the press release published on December 14.
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Several factors to consider
For British scientists, it may be interesting to consider patients’ genetic profile (through a polygenic risk score) as a method of defining the personalized risk of the disease. However, their work also shows that the way alcohol is consumed has a significant impact on liver health and should also be assessed during consultations.
Dr. Gautam Mehta, from UCL and the Royal Free Hospital, lead author of the study, explains: “Although genetics plays an important role, this research highlights that drinking habits are also a key factor. Our results suggest, for example, that it may be more harmful to drink 21 units in one or two nights, rather than spreading them evenly over a week. The addition of genetic information – which could be widely used in healthcare in the coming years – makes it possible to predict risk even more accurately.”
Dr. Steven Bell, from the University of Cambridge, who also worked on the research, added: “As liver disease, especially alcohol-related deaths, has increased significantly since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is imperative that we adopt innovative strategies to tackle this growing crisis. This study provides us with essential new tools to identify those most at risk, allowing us to target more effective interventions at those who will benefit most.”
Read Also: Gene Therapy Used for Parkinson’s Reduces Alcohol Consumption by 90% in Addicted Primates
References
Ding, C., Ng Fat, L., Britton, A. et al. Binge-pattern alcohol consumption and genetic risk as determinants of alcohol-related liver disease. Nat Commun 14, 8041 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43064-x
UCL News. (2023, December 14). Pattern of alcohol intake more accurate indicator of liver disease risk than overall consumption. University College London. Retrieved from https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2023/dec/pattern-alcohol-intake-more-accurate-indicator-liver-disease-risk-overall-consumption
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