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Abstract Details
Alcohol consumption and metabolic syndrome: Clinical and epidemiological impact on liver disease
1Transplantation and Liver Surgery Clinic, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: Fredrik.Aberg@helsinki.fi.
2Nutrition & Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, University Hospital Southampton and University of Southampton, UK; National Institute for Health and Care Research, Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.
3University of Buenos Aires, School of Medicine, Institute of Medical Research A Lanari, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET)-University of Buenos Aires, Institute of Medical Research (IDIM), Department of Molecular Genetics and Biology of Complex Diseases, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
4Departments of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
5National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET)-University of Buenos Aires, Institute of Medical Research (IDIM), Department of Molecular Genetics and Biology of Complex Diseases, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET)-University of Buenos Aires, Institute of Medical Research (IDIM), Department of Clinical and Molecular Hepatology, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: ssookoian@intramed.net.
Abstract
Alcohol use and metabolic syndrome are highly prevalent in the population and frequently co-exist. Both are implicated in a large range of health problems, including chronic liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver-related outcomes (i.e. decompensation or liver transplantation). Studies have yielded mixed results regarding the effects of mild-moderate alcohol consumption on the risk of metabolic syndrome and fatty liver disease, possibly due to methodological differences. The few available prospective studies have indicated that mild-moderate alcohol use is associated with an increase in liver-related outcomes. This conclusion was substantiated by systems biology analyses suggesting that alcohol and metabolic syndrome may play a similar role in fatty liver disease, potentiating an already existing dysregulation of common vital homeostatic pathways. Alcohol and metabolic factors are independently and jointly associated with liver-related outcomes. Indeed, metabolic syndrome increases the risk of liver-related outcomes, regardless of alcohol intake. Moreover, the components of metabolic syndrome appear to have additive effects when it comes to the risk of liver-related outcomes. A number of population studies have implied that measures of central/abdominal obesity, such as the waist-to-hip ratio, can predict liver-related outcomes more accurately than BMI, including in individuals who consume harmful quantities of alcohol. Many studies even point to synergistic interactions between harmful alcohol use and many metabolic components. This accumulating evidence showing independent, combined, and modifying effects of alcohol and metabolic factors on the onset and progression of chronic liver disease highlights the multifactorial background of liver disease in the population. The available evidence suggests that more holistic approaches could be useful for risk prediction, diagnostics and treatment planning.