Binge drinking does not appear to have an adverse effect on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Findings from a study of four First Nations communities

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Binge drinking and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are common health problems throughout the world. However, the impact of binge drinking on NAFLD has yet to be described. The objective of this study was to document the extent of liver disease in community-based NAFLD patients who self-reported monthly binge drinking and compare the findings to NAFLD patients from the same communities who denied binge drinking (controls). METHODS: The study was undertaken in four Manitoba First Nations communities where the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages are prohibited but visits to urban centres are common. Binge drinkers were retrospectively matched 1:2 by age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) with controls. NAFLD was diagnosed by ultrasonographic features of excess fat in the liver in individuals with no alternative, non-metabolic explanation for fatty infiltration of the liver. Hepatic inflammation and function were determined by standard liver biochemistry testing and fibrosis by FIB-4 levels and hepatic elastography. RESULTS: Of 546 NAFLD patients, 88 (16%) attested to binge drinking. The mean age of binge drinkers was 40 (SD 13) years; 51% were male; and the mean BMI was 34 (SD 7). Compared with controls, binge drinkers had similar liver biochemistry results (alanine and aspartate aminotransferases: 41 [SD 39] and 36 [SD 30] versus 36 [SD 36] and 31 [SD 27] U/L, p = 0.35 and p = 0.37, respectively), FIB-4 values (0.75 [SD 0.55] versus 0.72 [SD 0.44], p = 0.41, respectively), and hepatic elastrography (6.6 [SD 3.9] versus 6.2 [SD 2.9] kPa, p = 0.37, respectively) findings. CONCLUSIONS: In this study population, monthly binge drinking did not appear to impact the severity of NAFLD.