Effect of Alcohol on Liver Enzymes Increases with Increasing Body Mass Index

October 29, 2008

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Effect of Alcohol on Liver Enzymes Increases with Increasing Body Mass

Index

Reference: " Effect of moderate alcohol consumption on liver enzymes

increases with increasing body mass index, " Alatalo1 PI, Koivisto1 HM,

et al, Am J Clin Nutr, 2008; 88(4): 1097-1103. (Address: OJ Niemelä,

Seinäjoki Central Hospital, Laboratory, FIN-60220 Seinäjoki, Finland.

E-mail: onni.niemela@... ).

Summary: In a study involving data from 2,164 apparently healthy

subjects (1,136 women and 1,028 men) consuming either no alcohol

( " abstainers " ) or less than 40 g/d ethanol ( " moderate drinkers " ),

increasing body mass index (BMI) was found to be associated with a

greater elevation in liver enzymes, most significantly in moderate

alcohol consumers. Levels of the liver enzymes ALT (alanine

aminotransferase) and GGT (glutamyltransferase) were higher among

moderate drinkers than abstainers, while levels of AST (aspartate

aminotransferase) were not significantly different between the groups.

The authors conclude, " These findings should be considered in the

clinical assessment of overweight alcohol consumers and in the

definition of normal ranges for liver enzymes. These results may also

help to develop new approaches for examining patients with fatty liver

induced by either ethanol or adiposity. "

--

ne Holden, MS, RD

" Ask the Parkinson Dietitian " http://www.parkinson.org/

" Eat well, stay well with Parkinson's disease "

" Parkinson's disease: Guidelines for Medical Nutrition Therapy "

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