Changes in liver-derived enzymes and self-reported alcohol consumption - A1-year follow-up study in Denmark

Background: The association between alcohol intake and liver disease is wel l 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 cha nges in liver-derived enzymes and their association with self-reported alco hol consumption. Methods: We recorded liver-derived enzyme values, self-rep orted alcohol consumption, and potential confounder variables at base line and at a 1-year follow-up in a representative sample of 822 persons (aged 3 0-50 years) from the survey of The Ebeltoft Health Promotion Project in Den mark, by using questionnaires, health examinations, and blood samples. Resu lts: The prevalence of increased liver-derived enzyme values was 11.1% at b ase 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 c ases of increased liver-derived enzyme values returned to normal within 1 y ear. 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 pre valence of increased liver-derived enzyme values in the population was high and increased slightly during the study period. There was a strong associa tion between the incidence rate of increased liver-derived enzyme values an d self-reported alcohol consumption in a dose-dependent relationship, also when adjusted for confounding by smoking and obesity. The persons with pers istently increased enzyme values had a higher weekly alcohol consumption th an the rest of the study population.