title: [Alcohol consumption and liver enzymes in persons 30-50 years of age. Cross-sectional study from Ebeltoft].
abstract: In a representative population sample of 905 persons we examined the prevalence of raised levels of liver-derived enzymes and its possible association with self-reported alcohol consumption adjusted for smoking and BMI applying logistic regression analyses. A large proportion of 12% (women 8%; men 16%) presented raised liver-derived enzymes. Below 21 units per week (one unit equals 12 grams of alcohol) there was no association with self-reported alcohol consumption. However, the risk of abnormal liver enzymes increased with higher consumption for both sexes; if the intake was above 28 units per week, the odds ratio for raised liver enzymes increased dramatically. Whether this subclinical biochemical liver condition is an early marker of alcohol-related liver damage remains to be seen, but the long-term consequences of the reported alcohol consumption and the frequency of raised liver enzymes require follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Aarhus Universitet, Sundhedsprojekt Ebeltoft, Institut for Almen Medicin og Center for Epidemiologisk Grundforskning.
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Steffensen
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Sørensen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brock
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vilstrup
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lauritzen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking
chemical_list: D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase