Are you drinking heavily? You may be at greater risk of liver disease
The rate of serious liver disease among heavy drinkers has more than doubled over the last 20 years as the demographics around who is consuming more alcohol shift, a new study suggests.
The research, published Wednesday in American medical journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, found that heavy alcohol use is up among women, older adults, lower-income individuals and people with metabolic syndromes like obesity, high blood pressure and high blood sugar.
These groups tend to already be at a higher risk for liver disease, and excessive drinking only makes that worse, doctors say.
"Liver disease is real, it's surging, and your risk is much higher than you might think," said Dr. Brian Lee, a study author and a transplant hepatologist who treats liver transplant patients in the U.S.
WATCH | Research suggests heavy drinking is shifting and liver disease is up:
Who's drinking heavily is shifting and liver disease is up, research finds
1 day ago
A study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology shows that rates of serious liver scarring more than doubled over the last 20 years among heavy drinkers as the demographics of drinkers shift to include older adults and women.
Liver disease is a leading cause of alcohol-related deaths in Canada and the United States. Severe forms of the illness, which has three main stages, leads to cirrhosis. That's when the liver has experienced irreversible damage and is significantly scarred.
"Alcohol causes fat to deposit in the liver, that fat then causes inflammation, the inflammation then causes scarring and the scarring is what causes the long-term complications of liver disease," said Lee.
Until it gets to the later stages, there aren't usually many obvious symptoms related to alcohol-related liver disease. And there's also not any specific treatment that can help.
People are often advised to stop drinking or make other lifestyle changes, but in severe cases where the liver has stopped working, a liver transplant might be necessary.
Rate of liver disease doubled: study
The new research followed more than 44,600 American adults who were 20 years or older from 1999 to 2020.
Over that 20-year period, the study found that among heavy drinkers, the rate of serious liver disease increased from 1.8 per cent in 1999 to 2004, to 4.3 per cent in 2013 to 2020.
That increase was mostly in women, older people and those living in poverty.
Even though the research included only people in the United States, experts say this is a global trend.
In Canada, recent research has also shown that alcohol-related illnesses are on the rise and that women are increasingly impacted.
Better consumption guidelines needed: Expert
"One thing that we need to really try as a population is to better educate our population on how much alcohol they're actually consuming," said Dr. Jennifer Flemming, an associate professor in medicine and public health at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont.
Flemming says many people don't understand what constitutes a standard drink.
Experts blame this uncertainty on a mishmash of alcohol consumption guidelines and little transparency on the amount of alcohol in a standard drink.
For example, Flemming says in the United States, 14 grams of pure alcohol is considered a standard drink, compared to 10 grams of pure alcohol in the United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, in Canada, the national health department says a standard drink is 13.45 grams of pure alcohol, which includes a 12 ounce bottle of beer at five per cent alcohol, or a five ounce glass of wine at 12 per cent alcohol.
Warning labels may help, study suggests
But labels on alcohol products in many parts of the world don't actually specify how many grams the alcohol contains, which Flemming says can make it hard for people to know.
Though research is limited, some studies suggest that placing warning labels on alcohol can decrease consumption.
A study published in 2020 examined the effect of warning labels on alcohol in the Yukon. The researchers found that sales of alcohol with warning labels decreased and concluded that these labels resulted in reduced consumption.
"When people noticed the warnings, they changed their beliefs," said one of the researchers Tim Stockwell, who is a scientist at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria in B.C.
"Those people who increased their awareness of the cancer risk expressed intentions to cut down their drinking.
Which consumption guidelines should Canadians follow?
The Canadian Centre for Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) released new alcohol consumption guidelines in 2023. They stated that no amount of alcohol is safe and recommended no more than two drinks a week for men and women.
Despite receiving funding from Health Canada to create these new guidelines, the federal health department has not adopted them, and its website features different recommendations.
In an email, a Health Canada spokesperson told CBC News the CCSA's work is "ongoing" and said "the Health Canada website will be updated after this work is completed."
As for adding warning labels that better define the risks and serving size, Health Canada says it is "monitoring the situation and will continue to inform the public about the harms of alcohol."
But experts say more needs to be done to better protect people. At this time, Stockwell says the best guidance for Canadians is to follow the recommendations by the CCSA.
"The pressure is mounting," said Stockwell, though he noted how challenging it is given the power of large commercial alcohol companies.
People more aware of health risks: Expert
The new research doesn't account for increased alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic, but research in Canada found that alcohol-related illnesses did significantly increase during that time.
It also doesn't account for early suggestions that people have been drinking less post-pandemic, says Stockwell.
"There's been a shift in the awareness out there in the public … about the health impacts," he said.
That's why he expects future research to show a drop in alcohol-related illnesses, like liver disease.
He says this is also partly due to inflation.
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13 hours ago
Are you drinking heavily? You may be at greater risk of liver disease
The rate of serious liver disease among heavy drinkers has more than doubled over the last 20 years as the demographics around who is consuming more alcohol shift, a new study suggests. The research, published (new window) Wednesday in American medical journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, found that heavy alcohol use is up among women, older adults, lower-income individuals and people with metabolic syndromes like obesity, high blood pressure and high blood sugar. These groups tend to already be at a higher risk for liver disease, and excessive drinking only makes that worse, doctors say. Liver disease is real, it's surging, and your risk is much higher than you might think, said Dr. Brian Lee, a study author and a transplant hepatologist who treats liver transplant patients in the U.S. WATCH | Research suggests heavy drinking is shifting and liver disease is up: Liver disease is a leading cause of alcohol-related deaths in Canada (new window) and the United States (new window) . Severe forms of the illness, which has three main stages (new window) , leads to cirrhosis. That's when the liver has experienced irreversible damage and is significantly scarred. Alcohol causes fat to deposit in the liver, that fat then causes inflammation, the inflammation then causes scarring and the scarring is what causes the long-term complications of liver disease, said Lee. Until it gets to the later stages, there aren't usually many obvious symptoms (new window) related to alcohol-related liver disease. And there's also not any specific treatment that can help. People are often advised to stop drinking or make other lifestyle changes, but in severe cases where the liver has stopped working, a liver transplant might be necessary. Rate of liver disease doubled: study The new research followed more than 44,600 American adults who were 20 years or older from 1999 to 2020. Over that 20-year period, the study found that among heavy drinkers, the rate of serious liver disease increased from 1.8 per cent in 1999 to 2004, to 4.3 per cent in 2013 to 2020. That increase was mostly in women, older people and those living in poverty. Even though the research included only people in the United States, experts say this is a global trend. In Canada, recent research (new window) has also shown that alcohol-related illnesses are on the rise and that women are increasingly impacted. Better consumption guidelines needed: Expert One thing that we need to really try as a population is to better educate our population on how much alcohol they're actually consuming, said Dr. Jennifer Flemming, an associate professor in medicine and public health at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont. Flemming says many people don't understand what constitutes a standard drink. Experts blame this uncertainty on a mishmash of alcohol consumption guidelines and little transparency on the amount of alcohol in a standard drink. For example, Flemming says in the United States, 14 grams of pure alcohol is considered a standard drink, compared to 10 grams of pure alcohol in the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, in Canada, the national health department says a standard drink is 13.45 grams of pure alcohol (new window) , which includes a 12 ounce bottle of beer at five per cent alcohol, or a five ounce glass of wine at 12 per cent alcohol. Enlarge image (new window) Experts say warning labels on alcohol outlining the health risks related to its consumption would help inform people. Photo: Radio-Canada / Neil Cochrane/ICI Radio-Canada Warning labels may help, study suggests But labels on alcohol products in many parts of the world don't actually specify how many grams the alcohol contains, which Flemming says can make it hard for people to know. Though research is limited, some studies suggest that placing warning labels on alcohol can decrease consumption. A study published (new window) in 2020 examined the effect of warning labels on alcohol in the Yukon. The researchers found that sales of alcohol with warning labels decreased and concluded that these labels resulted in reduced consumption. When people noticed the warnings, they changed their beliefs, said one of the researchers Tim Stockwell, who is a scientist at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria in B.C. "Those people who increased their awareness of the cancer risk expressed intentions to cut down their drinking. Which consumption guidelines should Canadians follow? The Canadian Centre for Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) released new alcohol consumption guidelines (new window) in 2023. They stated that no amount of alcohol is safe and recommended no more than two drinks a week for men and women. Despite receiving funding from Health Canada to create these new guidelines, the federal health department has not adopted them, and its website features different recommendations (new window) . In an email, a Health Canada spokesperson told CBC News the CCSA's work is ongoing and said the Health Canada website will be updated after this work is completed. As for adding warning labels that better define the risks and serving size, Health Canada says it is monitoring the situation and will continue to inform the public about the harms of alcohol. Enlarge image (new window) Tim Stockwell, a scientist with the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria, says there's been a shift in public awareness about the health impacts of heavy drinking. That's why he expects future research to show a drop in alcohol-related illnesses like liver disease. Photo: University of Victoria But experts say more needs to be done to better protect people. At this time, Stockwell says the best guidance for Canadians is to follow the recommendations by the CCSA. The pressure is mounting, said Stockwell, though he noted how challenging it is given the power of large commercial alcohol companies. LISTEN | The Dose: How does drinking affect my health? (new window) People more aware of health risks: Expert The new research doesn't account for increased alcohol consumption (new window) during the COVID-19 pandemic, but research in Canada found that (new window) alcohol-related illnesses did significantly increase during that time. It also doesn't account for early suggestions that people have been drinking less post-pandemic, says Stockwell. There's been a shift in the awareness out there in the public … about the health impacts, he said. That's why he expects future research to show a drop in alcohol-related illnesses, like liver disease. He says this is also partly due to inflation. When people have less disposable income, they spend less on everything, and alcohol is no exception, said Stockwell, noting that people also appear to be paying attention to new information about cancer risks related to alcohol consumption.
Montreal Gazette
14 hours ago
- Montreal Gazette
The Right Chemistry: A peashooter will not bring down a charging rhino
'A gesture as effective as sending out a boy with a peashooter to bring down a rhinoceros.' Sometimes I feel like I'm the boy and the rhino is the compendium of quack therapies ranging from coffee enemas, raw juice diets and therapeutic touch to Laetrile, homeopathic X-rays and Joe Mercola's penchant for infusing carbon dioxide up his rectum. Alas, the peashooter analogy is not my own. I swiped it from '100,000,000 Guinea Pigs,' a book published in 1933 by consumer advocates Arthur Kallet and F.J. Schlink. It claimed that the American public were guinea pigs, at the mercy of retailers who were flooding the market with overly hyped products that were either untested or known to contain harmful ingredients. The peashooter in Kallet and Schlink's example was aimed at 'Allen's Ulcerine Salve,' the 'rhinoceros' that was claimed to be an effective treatment for gunshot wounds, lacerations and animal bites. Not only was there no evidence of efficacy, but the product contained a toxic lead salt. The 1906 Food and Drug law had prohibited nostrums from false labelling of ingredients, but if there were no ingredients listed on the label, authorities could do nothing but confiscate a few dozen bottles. Allen's Ulcerine Salve was by no means the only rhinoceros targeted by Kallet and Schlink. Lead arsenate was widely sprayed at the time on fruits and vegetables as an insecticide and government action was only taken when Britain refused to import American apples because of arsenic residues. Dried fruits were preserved with sulphur dioxide at doses that were not allowed in Europe, flour was bleached with potassium bromate already banned in France, and toxic ammoniated mercury was widely advertised to whiten skin and remove freckles. Fear of bacterial diseases was widespread and various 'antiseptics' of unproven efficacy were advertised to convince a credulous public that without them they were destined to find themselves hairless, toothless, reeking of body odour and helpless in the face of germs that were waiting to pounce on vital organs. Pebeco toothpaste was supposed to strengthen gums with its content of potassium chlorate, for which there was no evidence. A tube contained as much as 30 grams of the chemical, a potentially lethal dose. A German army officer was said to have committed suicide by consuming a tube of Pebeco. Obesity 'cures' containing animal thyroid extracts or laxatives were available in pharmacies, as were painkillers like Salicon that contained Aspirin without it being declared on the label. People with Aspirin sensitivity were fooled into trying it. 'Scar-Pox' guaranteed to cure scarlet fever or smallpox in just three days. It contained nothing but a few pennies worth of cream of tartar. 'Kopp's Baby Friend' and 'Winslow's Soothing Syrup' contained unregulated amounts of morphine sulphate, and then there was perhaps the ultimate dangerous quack remedy, 'Radithor,' marketed by William Bailey, a man with a long record of dangerous quackery. He had previously 'invented' the 'Radiendocrinator,' a small container of radioactive radium that came with an 'athletic strap' so that men could place it under the scrotum where it could be irradiated to enhance potency. The only thing it enhanced was the risk of cancer. Radithor was a solution of a radium salt that was meant to be consumed as a cure-all. Wealthy American businessman Eben Byers became a Radithor guinea pig when he started consuming the liquid upon noting that his performance in the bedroom wasn't what it used to be. At first, he claimed he had 'staged a comeback,' but that was short-lived. Soon his teeth began to fall out, most of the bones in his jaw had to be surgically removed, and his body eventually disintegrated from radiation sickness. One of the most scathing attacks in 100,00,000 Guinea Pigs was directed against 'Koremlu,' a cream that 'devitalized the hair follicle so that it can no longer produce hair.' It was marketed by New York beauty salon owner Kora M. Lubin and contained thallium acetate, a chemical that could indeed cause loss of hair. But it could also cause loss of life. Thallium as an element was isolated in 1861 almost simultaneously by French chemist Claude-August Lamy and British chemist Sir William Crookes. Lamy found that during his experiments he suffered from exhaustion and developed excruciating pains in his legs. When he fed thallium compounds to animals they quickly weakened and died. This led to the use of thallium sulphate for pest control that persisted until the 1950s. Animals exposed to thallium also began to shed hair and that induced French dermatologist Raymond Sabouraud to use it to treat ringworm, a scalp infection. Removing hair from an infected scalp he believed would allow the scalp to heal. He did urge caution about its use because of thallium's toxicity. It seems Lubin read about Sabouraud's use of thallium and paid no attention to the warning. She launched Koremlu in 1930 as a depilatory mostly for women to be used on the upper lip, armpits and legs. It wasn't long before they were experiencing hair loss on the scalp, fatigue, severe pain and burning in the feet and even paralysis. No government action was taken because Professor Curt Wimmer of Columbia University's College of Pharmacy declared it to be safe after trying one-gram portions on his body for 10 days and finding no toxic effect. Women were using as much as six grams a day. Finally, Koremlu disappeared when the company went bankrupt after numerous lawsuits had alleged damage by the product. It wasn't only unregulated chemicals that were wreaking havoc with the health of people. There were quack devices as well. The Vit-O-Net was an electric blanket that would 'charge the bloodstream with minute currents of electricity to nourish cells.' Pneumonia and diabetes were no match for the energized cells. Vit-O-Net's inventor was 'Dr.' W. F. Craddick, who despite having only a Grade 8 education received a doctorate from the College of Drugless Physicians in just two weeks in return for a promise to send 'students' to the college. Then there was the 'Electro-Chemical Ring' that would help against rheumatism, bladder stones, gout, irregular menstruation, jaundice and diabetes by 'supplying electricity to the blood to reduce the intensity and quantity of acid until there is no surplus.' It was a ring made of iron and nothing else. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose! The situation has not changed all that much since 1933. Yes, there are more regulations, but quacks are still running amok. Is there much difference between the Vit-O-Net and today's 'Biomat' that claims to be a '3-part synergy of quantum energetics from deep-penetrating heat of far infrared Rays, negative ion therapy for cellular activation, and the healing properties of amethyst?' Are the current magnetic bracelets that claim to relieve pain all that different from the Electro-Chemical Ring? I think not. Battling quackery is hard, but maybe with enough peashooters we can slow down that charging rhinoceros.
CBC
21 hours ago
- CBC
Are you drinking heavily? You may be at greater risk of liver disease
Social Sharing The rate of serious liver disease among heavy drinkers has more than doubled over the last 20 years as the demographics around who is consuming more alcohol shift, a new study suggests. The research, published Wednesday in American medical journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, found that heavy alcohol use is up among women, older adults, lower-income individuals and people with metabolic syndromes like obesity, high blood pressure and high blood sugar. These groups tend to already be at a higher risk for liver disease, and excessive drinking only makes that worse, doctors say. "Liver disease is real, it's surging, and your risk is much higher than you might think," said Dr. Brian Lee, a study author and a transplant hepatologist who treats liver transplant patients in the U.S. WATCH | Research suggests heavy drinking is shifting and liver disease is up: Who's drinking heavily is shifting and liver disease is up, research finds 1 day ago A study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology shows that rates of serious liver scarring more than doubled over the last 20 years among heavy drinkers as the demographics of drinkers shift to include older adults and women. Liver disease is a leading cause of alcohol-related deaths in Canada and the United States. Severe forms of the illness, which has three main stages, leads to cirrhosis. That's when the liver has experienced irreversible damage and is significantly scarred. "Alcohol causes fat to deposit in the liver, that fat then causes inflammation, the inflammation then causes scarring and the scarring is what causes the long-term complications of liver disease," said Lee. Until it gets to the later stages, there aren't usually many obvious symptoms related to alcohol-related liver disease. And there's also not any specific treatment that can help. People are often advised to stop drinking or make other lifestyle changes, but in severe cases where the liver has stopped working, a liver transplant might be necessary. Rate of liver disease doubled: study The new research followed more than 44,600 American adults who were 20 years or older from 1999 to 2020. Over that 20-year period, the study found that among heavy drinkers, the rate of serious liver disease increased from 1.8 per cent in 1999 to 2004, to 4.3 per cent in 2013 to 2020. That increase was mostly in women, older people and those living in poverty. Even though the research included only people in the United States, experts say this is a global trend. In Canada, recent research has also shown that alcohol-related illnesses are on the rise and that women are increasingly impacted. Better consumption guidelines needed: Expert "One thing that we need to really try as a population is to better educate our population on how much alcohol they're actually consuming," said Dr. Jennifer Flemming, an associate professor in medicine and public health at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont. Flemming says many people don't understand what constitutes a standard drink. Experts blame this uncertainty on a mishmash of alcohol consumption guidelines and little transparency on the amount of alcohol in a standard drink. For example, Flemming says in the United States, 14 grams of pure alcohol is considered a standard drink, compared to 10 grams of pure alcohol in the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, in Canada, the national health department says a standard drink is 13.45 grams of pure alcohol, which includes a 12 ounce bottle of beer at five per cent alcohol, or a five ounce glass of wine at 12 per cent alcohol. Warning labels may help, study suggests But labels on alcohol products in many parts of the world don't actually specify how many grams the alcohol contains, which Flemming says can make it hard for people to know. Though research is limited, some studies suggest that placing warning labels on alcohol can decrease consumption. A study published in 2020 examined the effect of warning labels on alcohol in the Yukon. The researchers found that sales of alcohol with warning labels decreased and concluded that these labels resulted in reduced consumption. "When people noticed the warnings, they changed their beliefs," said one of the researchers Tim Stockwell, who is a scientist at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria in B.C. "Those people who increased their awareness of the cancer risk expressed intentions to cut down their drinking. Which consumption guidelines should Canadians follow? The Canadian Centre for Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) released new alcohol consumption guidelines in 2023. They stated that no amount of alcohol is safe and recommended no more than two drinks a week for men and women. Despite receiving funding from Health Canada to create these new guidelines, the federal health department has not adopted them, and its website features different recommendations. In an email, a Health Canada spokesperson told CBC News the CCSA's work is "ongoing" and said "the Health Canada website will be updated after this work is completed." As for adding warning labels that better define the risks and serving size, Health Canada says it is "monitoring the situation and will continue to inform the public about the harms of alcohol." But experts say more needs to be done to better protect people. At this time, Stockwell says the best guidance for Canadians is to follow the recommendations by the CCSA. "The pressure is mounting," said Stockwell, though he noted how challenging it is given the power of large commercial alcohol companies. People more aware of health risks: Expert The new research doesn't account for increased alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic, but research in Canada found that alcohol-related illnesses did significantly increase during that time. It also doesn't account for early suggestions that people have been drinking less post-pandemic, says Stockwell. "There's been a shift in the awareness out there in the public … about the health impacts," he said. That's why he expects future research to show a drop in alcohol-related illnesses, like liver disease. He says this is also partly due to inflation.
