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Review
. 2015 Jun;4(3):147-51.
doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2304-3881.2014.12.01.

Effect of chronic alcohol consumption on the development and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

Helmut K Seitz  1 , Sebastian Mueller  1 , Claus Hellerbrand  1 , Suthat Liangpunsakul  1
Affiliations
Review

Effect of chronic alcohol consumption on the development and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

Helmut K Seitz et al. Hepatobiliary Surg Nutr. 2015 Jun.

Abstract

A number of epidemiologic studies show a protective effect of light to moderate daily alcohol consumption on the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Although these small amounts of ethanol may prevent fatty liver, they may also be a risk factor for other diseases such as breast and colon cancer. Those individuals who have underlying hepatic steatosis or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) should not use ethanol chronically since the data available at present do not support a beneficial effect of alcohol in this situation. Especially overweight and obese individuals may be more susceptible towards alcohol even at moderate doses. Animal experiments show a negative effect of ethanol on liver histology in either dietary or genetic NASH models. In addition, patients with NASH reveal a significant increased risk for hepatocellular cancer (HCC) even with social alcohol consumption. Thus, subjects with underlying NASH should abstain from alcohol at any amounts.

Keywords: Alcohol; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

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