Daily alcohol consumption even at very low levels early in life may significantly increase the risk of alcoholic liver disease in men, a new study suggests.
The paper, published in the Journal of Hepatology, suggests that guidelines for safe alcohol intake in men may have to be “revised downwards”.
Alcohol is the leading cause of liver cirrhosis and liver-related deaths. The current maximum weekly recommended limit for men in Ireland is 17 units, or standard drinks. A unit contains 10 grams of alcohol and is equivalent to a half pint of beer or a small glass of wine.
A study by Swedish doctors, based on more than 43,000 men conscripted into the army in 1969-1970 at the ages of 18 and 19, found that how much a person drinks in their late teens can predict the risk of developing cirrhosis later in life.
After 39 years of follow-up, 383 men had developed severe liver disease, including liver cancers, and the risk was found to be more pronounced in those who had consumed two drinks a day – about 20 grams of alcohol – or more.
Source: Elaine Edwards, The Irish Times, 21/01/18
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