Changes in liver-derived enzymes and self-reported alcohol consumption. A 1-year follow-up study in Denmark.
BACKGROUND
The association between alcohol intake and liver disease is well known, but little is known about alcohol consumption and changes in liver-derived enzymes within 1 year. In a 1-year follow-up study we examined changes in liver-derived enzymes and their association with self-reported alcohol consumption.


METHODS
We recorded liver-derived enzyme values, self-reported alcohol consumption, and potential confounder variables at base line and at a 1-year follow-up in a representative sample of 822 persons (aged 30-50 years) from the survey of The Ebeltoft Health Promotion Project in Denmark, by using questionnaires, health examinations, and blood samples.


RESULTS
The prevalence of increased liver-derived enzyme values was 11.1% at base line and 11.8% at the 1-year follow-up. The incidence rate of increased liver-derived enzyme values was 5.1 per 100 person-years, and 34% of the cases of increased liver-derived enzyme values returned to normal within I year. We found an odds ratio of 4.0 for men and 8.0 for women of developing increased liver-derived enzyme values if alcohol consumption was more than 21 units a week. The risk seemed to be dose-dependent.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of increased liver-derived enzyme values in the population was high and increased slightly during the study period. There was a strong association between the incidence rate of increased liver-derived enzyme values and self-reported alcohol consumption in a dose-dependent relationship, also when adjusted for confounding by smoking and obesity. The persons with persistently increased enzyme values had a higher weekly alcohol consumption than the rest of the study population.
Thulstrup
A M
AM
Danish Epidemiology Science Centre at the Dept. of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, The Ebeltoft Health Promotion Study.
Sørensen
H T
HT
Steffensen
F H
FH
Vilstrup
H
H
Lauritzen
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000378:metabolism*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase