From the Guidelines
Daily consumption of more than 2 standard drinks (20g of pure alcohol) can cause liver cirrhosis.
Risk Factors for Liver Cirrhosis
- The risk of liver cirrhosis increases proportionally with the quantity of alcohol consumed, with a significant increase in risk for subjects consuming between 24 and 60 g/day 1.
- A daily intake of 100 g/day can increase the relative risk of liver cirrhosis to 26 1.
- Pattern of consumption also plays a role, with daily drinking, drinking while fasting, and binge drinking increasing the risk of liver cirrhosis 1.
- Genetic factors, such as PNPLA3 polymorphism, can also increase the risk of liver cirrhosis 1.
- Environmental factors, such as smoking, obesity, and viral hepatitis, can also contribute to the development of liver cirrhosis 1.
Quantity of Alcoholic Drinks
- 2 standard drinks per day (20g of pure alcohol) is associated with an increased risk of liver cirrhosis 1.
- 25-30 g/day of pure alcohol can increase the relative risk of liver cirrhosis to 2.9-4.9 1.
- 100 g/day of pure alcohol can increase the relative risk of liver cirrhosis to 26 1. It is essential to note that the risk of liver cirrhosis varies widely among individuals and is influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Therefore, it is crucial to approach each patient individually and consider their unique risk factors when assessing their risk of developing liver cirrhosis.
From the Research
Quantity of Alcoholic Drinks and Liver Cirrhosis
The relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk of liver cirrhosis has been extensively studied. According to 2, drinking ≥5 drinks per day is associated with a substantially increased risk of liver cirrhosis in both women and men. The study found that the risk for women was consistently higher compared to men, with a relative risk (RR) of 12.44 for 5-6 drinks per day and RR = 24.58 for ≥7 drinks per day.
Daily Alcohol Consumption and Liver Cirrhosis Risk
3 analyzed the associations between alcohol consumption with meals, daily frequency of consumption, and liver cirrhosis risk. The study found that cirrhosis incidence increased with the amount of alcohol consumed, with a relative risk of 3.43 for ≥15 drinks per week compared to 1-2 drinks per week. Additionally, the study found that daily consumption, together with not drinking with meals, was associated with more than a doubling of cirrhosis incidence.
Dose-Dependent Relationship between Alcohol and Liver Cirrhosis
4 quantified the relationship between alcohol use and the progression of liver disease in people with HCV infections. The study found that alcohol use has a dose-dependent relationship with incident cirrhosis, with each standard drink of 12 grams of pure alcohol per day increasing the risk by about 11%.
Moderate Alcohol Intake and Liver-Related Outcomes
5 explored the associations of moderate drinking with cirrhosis, steatotic liver disease, and liver cancer in a large cohort study. The study found that moderate drinkers had a lower risk of steatotic liver disease compared to non-drinkers, but alcohol intake was associated with an increased risk of incident cirrhosis. However, the association was attenuated after restricting alcohol intake to no more than 16 g/day.
Key Findings
- Drinking ≥5 drinks per day is associated with a substantially increased risk of liver cirrhosis in both women and men 2
- Daily consumption, together with not drinking with meals, is associated with more than a doubling of cirrhosis incidence 3
- Each standard drink of 12 grams of pure alcohol per day increases the risk of cirrhosis by about 11% 4
- Moderate drinkers have a lower risk of steatotic liver disease, but alcohol intake is associated with an increased risk of incident cirrhosis 5
- The risk of liver cirrhosis increases exponentially with alcohol consumption, with women being at higher risk compared to men even with little alcohol consumption 2