Medical/Scientific Council Comments.
In 1992, there was yet another study that showed a diminished risk of gallbladder disease with moderate drinking. So far, virtually every study that has explored this relationship has found the same results. The interesting aspect of this study is that drinking seems to protect against the need for surgery, rather than the formation of gallstones. The study by Corrao, et al.shows how important prior hepatitis infections are increasing the risk of cirrhosis, particularly when those infections occur in the setting of heavy drinking.
Summaries
Italian investigators assessed the risk of developing cirrhosis with a case-control study of 115 patients diagnosed with cirrhosis and 167 without cirrhosis, but admitted to the same set of hospitals. The latter group were used as controls. All subjects were evaluated for alcohol consumption and tested for presence of prior hepatitis B or hepatitis C infections. Thus someone who had consumed between 21 and 100g of alcohol per day (g/d) for their adult life had no significant increase in the risk of cirrhosis, but that risk increased 1 5-fold in someone with a prior hepatitis C infection. A heavy drinker with a prior hepatitis C infection had a 2 5- fold increase in the risk of cirrhosis.
Corrao, et al. concluded that both hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections are significantly associated with increased risk of cirrhosis and heavy consumption of alcohol adds to this increased risk.
The study involved reactively small numbers of patients making it difficult to be confident about the dose-effect relationship between alcohol drinking and cirrhosis. The most important part of this finding is that both alcohol drinking and prior hepatitis infections are important risk factors for cirrhosis.
Corrao C, et al, Interaction between alcohol consumption and positivity for antibodies to hepatitis C virus on the risk of liver cirrhosis: A case control study., European Journal of Epidemiology 1992: 8(5):634-9.
Japanese investigators examined 2739 men between 1986 an 1990 for the presence of gallbladder disease. This was determined on the basis of either a gallbladder ultrasound or a past history of gallbladder surgery. The presence or absence of gallstone disease was compared with smoking, alcohol use, weight, and presence of diabetes. Alcohol drinking was associated with a decreased risk of gallbladder disease while higher body weight was associated with an increased risk of gallbladder disease. Men who consumed between two and four drinks per day had approximately half the risk of gallstone disease as those who were non-drinkers.
Kono, et al. concluded that alcohol drinking did not appear to diminish the likelihood of gallstone formation, but may be related to a diminished likelihood that gallbladder surgery may be required. The reasons for this finding are not clear.
Kono S, et al, Prevalence of gallstone disease in relation to smoking, alcohol use, obesity and glucose tolerance: A study of self-defence officials in Japan., American Journal of Epidemiology 1992; 136(7):787-94.
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