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Modest alcohol intake not associated with significant hepatic steatosis or more severe liver disease among patients with diabetes mellitus
Author(s) -
Tan Eunice ZhiYi,
Lai LeeLee,
Vethakkan Shireene Ratna,
Nik Mustapha Nik Raihan,
Mahadeva Sanjiv,
Chan WahKheong
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/jgh.15160
Subject(s) - medicine , transient elastography , steatosis , fatty liver , steatohepatitis , liver biopsy , gastroenterology , glycated hemoglobin , cirrhosis , diabetes mellitus , liver disease , type 2 diabetes mellitus , biopsy , type 2 diabetes , endocrinology , disease
Background The effect of modest alcohol intake on prevalence of significant hepatic steatosis and severity of liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is unclear. Methods This is a cross‐sectional study on T2DM patients. Modest alcohol intake was defined as alcohol intake ≤ 21 units/week in men and ≤ 14 units/week in women. Significant hepatic steatosis was diagnosed on the basis of controlled attenuation parameter > 263 dB/m, while advanced fibrosis was diagnosed on the basis of liver stiffness measurement ≥ 9.6 kPa using M probe or ≥ 9.3 kPa using XL probe. Patients with liver stiffness measurement ≥ 8.0 kPa were offered liver biopsy. Results Five hundred fifty‐seven patients underwent transient elastography, and 71 patients underwent liver biopsy. The prevalence of modest drinking was 16.5%. Modest drinking was equally prevalent among ethnic Indians and Chinese at 22.9% and 23.3%, respectively, but uncommon among ethnic Malays at 1.7%. Modest drinkers were more likely to be male, smoked, and had significantly lower glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase, and platelet count. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of significant hepatic steatosis or advanced fibrosis based on transient elastography and steatohepatitis or advanced fibrosis between modest drinkers and nondrinkers. The prevalence of significant hepatic steatosis was higher among ethnic Malays and Indians compared with ethnic Chinese, but the Chinese did not have a lower prevalence of more severe liver disease. Conclusion Modest alcohol intake is not associated with higher prevalence of significant hepatic steatosis or more severe liver disease among patients with T2DM.