Abstract
We analyzed the relationship between gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP) as an index of liver function and several alcohol drinking patterns by odds ratio and correlation coefficient on 1, 859 subjects (1, 296 males, 563 females) enrolled in this study if they met the following criteria: (1) they weren't under a doctor's care with a diagnosis of liver disease, (2) ultrasonography revealed no evidence of fatty liver or gallstones, (3) the result of tests on the serum for hepatitis B surface (HBs) antigen and hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies were negative.
Drinkers of 10+ drinks (more than 250 g ethanol) per week showed higher levels of odds ratio of liver dysfunction (7.63; 95% confidence interval 5.26-11.11) than drinkers of 2+ drinks (more than 50 g ethanol) per day (odds ratio 6.41; 95%CI 4.13-10.00) or daily drinkers (odds ratio 5.10; 95% CI 3.47-7.46) .
Pearson's correlation coefficient (γ) between γ-GTP and the amount of alcohol per week was γ=0.423 (p<0.001) . It was a higher correlation than the amount of alcohol per day (γ=0.400) or the frequency (γ=0.325) .
Drinkers of 10-drinks (250g ethanol or less) per week who drank every day or drank 2+ drinks per day showed lower levels of γ-GTP than drinkers of 10+ drinks per week who had alcohol free days and had 2-drinks (50 g ethanol or less) per day (p<0.01) . These results suggest that the alcohol supplement increases liver dysfunction in those who have alcohol free days.
As a guide for drinkers it is impossible to limit anything about alcohol drinking habits. It is reasonable to direct them to 10-drinks per week, and to use figures concretely as follows: You must have at least 2 alcohol free days if you have 2 drinks (50g ethanol) per day. But you can drink every day if you have 1 drink (25 g ethanol) per day.
