Peg or two lowers risk of liver disease

Washington: People with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NALFD), who consume a peg or two daily are half as likely to develop hepatitis as non-alcoholics with the same condition, says a new study.NALFD is the most common liver disease in the US, affecting up to a third of American adults. It's characterized by abnormal fat accumulation in the liver. The specific cause or causes is not known, though obesity and diabetes are risk factors.[caption id="attachment_285386" align="alignleft" width="380" caption="Reuters"][/caption]Most patients with NAFLD have few or no symptoms, but in its most progressive form, known as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH, there is a significantly heightened risk of cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver-related death, the Journal of Hepatology reports.NALFD is also a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Such patients are approximately two times more likely to die from coronary heart disease than from liver disease.The authors wanted to know if the well-documented heart-healthy benefits of modest alcohol consumption outweighed alcohol's negative effects, according to a California statement.IANS