Common drinking habit may quietly triple risk of advanced liver condition
AOL.com • • health
Key Points:
- A study by the University of Southern California found that even occasional binge drinking—defined as one episode per month—can triple the risk of advanced liver fibrosis in individuals with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
- Advanced liver fibrosis is a serious liver condition marked by significant scar tissue buildup due to chronic inflammation, often linked to metabolic disorders such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.
- The research, analyzing over 8,000 adults from the NHANES dataset, emphasized that the pattern of drinking (episodic heavy drinking) is more harmful than the total amount consumed spread over time.
- Younger adults and men were more likely to engage in occasional binge drinking, with increased liver scarring correlating to the number of drinks consumed per session.
- Experts highlight the importance of moderate drinking and caution against binge drinking, noting that individual risk factors should guide alcohol consumption, and further research is needed to understand and prevent liver disease related to drinking patterns.
