Binge drinking, genetic makeup, and type-2 diabetes can significantly increase the risk of alcohol-related cirrhosis (ARC), according to a new study conducted by researchers from UCL and elsewhere.
The study, published in Nature Communications, is the first to explore how an individual’s drinking patterns, genetic profile, and diabetes status impact the likelihood of developing ARC.
Liver disease is a significant global health concern, with cirrhosis affecting 2-3% of the world’s population. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the issue, leading to a 20% increase in alcohol-related deaths.
The researchers examined data from 312,599 adults who reported active drinking habits in the UK Biobank cohort. They aimed to assess how drinking patterns, genetic predisposition, and the presence of type-2 diabetes influenced the risk of ARC.
The study revealed several key findings:
Pattern Matters More than Volume: Instead of focusing solely on the amount of alcohol consumed, the study emphasized the importance of drinking patterns. Specifically, heavy binge drinking, defined as consuming 12 units of alcohol in a single day during the week, was associated with a threefold increase in the risk of developing ARC.
Genetic Predisposition: Individuals with a high genetic predisposition to ARC faced a fourfold increase in their risk, even if they did not engage in heavy binge drinking.
Type-2 Diabetes: Those with type-2 diabetes had double the risk of developing ARC, even when other factors were considered.
Combined Risks: The study highlighted that the risk of ARC increased significantly when multiple risk factors were present. For example, individuals who engaged in heavy binge drinking, had a high genetic predisposition, and had type-2 diabetes were six times more likely to develop ARC compared to those without these risk factors.
Dr. Linda Ng Fat, a lead author of the study, emphasized the importance of considering drinking patterns rather than just volume. She noted that many previous studies had primarily focused on the volume of alcohol consumed.
Dr. Gautam Mehta, a senior author of the study, highlighted the significance of understanding the role of drinking patterns in liver disease risk. He noted that even individuals with high genetic predisposition could reduce their risk by adopting healthier drinking patterns.
The study suggests that personalized disease risk assessment, using genetic information, may become more common in healthcare settings in the future.
Dr. Steven Bell, another senior author of the study, emphasized the need for innovative strategies to address the growing crisis of liver disease, particularly alcohol-related fatalities, which have surged during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pamela Healy, Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust, stressed the importance of recognizing that how people drink is just as important as how much they drink.
She called for a comprehensive approach to tackling increased alcohol consumption, including taxation, stronger controls on alcohol advertising and marketing, and improved awareness of the dangers of binge drinking in the UK.
If you care about liver health, please read studies about Fatty liver disease linked to severe infections and findings of A new drug for weight loss and liver health.
For more information about liver health, please see recent studies about All types of coffee could help lower the risk of chronic liver disease and results showing that Whole grains could benefit people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
The research findings can be found in Nature Communications.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
