Suzuki A et al. (2007) Light to moderate alcohol consumption is associated with lower frequency of hypertransaminasemia. Am J Gastroenterol 102: 1912–1919

There is considerable evidence that moderate alcohol consumption helps to protect against cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and insulin resistance, but its effect on the liver remains controversial. A study by a joint US and Japanese team now suggests that light-to-moderate alcohol consumption has a protective effect on liver function.

Suzuki et al. examined the health-care records of 1,177 male employees in a Japanese government office to determine the effect of alcohol consumption on serum aminotransferase levels. Female employees were excluded from the study because most were nondrinkers. Information about alcohol consumption was collected from questionnaires completed at annual health checkups. Light-to-moderate alcohol consumption (defined as 70–139 g and 140–279 g/week, respectively) was associated with a decreased risk of hypertransaminasemia compared with no or minimal consumption. When participants were stratified by age, moderate consumption was associated with least risk in those aged younger than 41 years (the median age), whereas light consumption produced the lowest risk in older participants. Excess alcohol consumption (defined as ≥280 g/week) correlated with a 1.4-fold excess risk of hypertransaminasemia. After 5 years of follow-up, moderate, but not light, alcohol consumption was associated with a lower incidence of hypertransaminasemia compared with no or minimal consumption in the youngest 326 participants (aged <40 years).

The authors conclude that light-to-moderate alcohol consumption might protect against hypertransaminasemia in healthy males.