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Alcohol Drinking May Not Be a Major Risk Factor for Fatty Liver in Japanese Undergoing a Health Checkup

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Abstract

The question of whether alcohol drinking is a risk factor for fatty liver as shown by ultrasonography was investigated by both cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches in Japanese undergoing a health checkup. In this cross-sectional study, 32,438 males (49.0 ± 11.9 years old) and 31,009 females (48.2 ± 11.6 years old) receiving a health checkup from 2000 to 2005 were included. Longitudinally, 5,444 males (49.8 ± 10.7 years old) and 4,980 females (50.4 ± 9.3 years old) participating in both 2000 and 2005 were included. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed for both sexes, adjusted for age, BMI, and smoking. The prevalence of fatty liver in non-, occasional, daily moderate, and daily heavy drinkers was 28.5, 27.5, 18.7, and 19.1% in men and 12.4, 7.7, 5.4, and 6.7% in women, respectively (inverse association, P ≤ 0.05 for both). Occasional, daily moderate, and daily heavy drinking in men and occasional and daily moderate drinking in women were inversely associated with fatty liver in the cross-sectional study. Daily moderate and heavy drinking appeared protective in men in the longitudinal study. Alcohol drinking may not be a major risk for fatty liver in Japanese undergoing a health checkup.

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Abbreviations

BMI:

Body mass index

OR:

Odds ratio

FBG:

Fasting blood glucose

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Okazaki City Medical Association, Public Health Center, 1-9-1 Tatsumi-nishi, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan

    Tamaki Yamada, Mitsuru Fukatsu & Takashi Yoshida

  2. Department of Public Health, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan

    Sadao Suzuki & Shinkan Tokudome

  3. Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan

    Takashi Joh

Authors
  1. Tamaki Yamada
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  2. Mitsuru Fukatsu
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  3. Sadao Suzuki
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  4. Takashi Yoshida
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  5. Shinkan Tokudome
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  6. Takashi Joh
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Correspondence to Tamaki Yamada.

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Yamada, T., Fukatsu, M., Suzuki, S. et al. Alcohol Drinking May Not Be a Major Risk Factor for Fatty Liver in Japanese Undergoing a Health Checkup. Dig Dis Sci 55, 176–182 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-008-0693-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-008-0693-0

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