Is drinking 0.05% alcoholic drinks OK if you have a fatty liver

[jan123]

[Hidden]

Hi

This question really needs to be asked to your doctor.

My advice from my doctor ( i have also had FL) is 7 to 10 units a week so I would say that 0.05% will be fine.

Just to share what I do, I drink non alcoholic beers through the week now and have a couple of beers on Friday, the odd glass of wine saturday and sunday with meals and that's it).

I think the general rule with FL is don't exceed the daily limits based on the government advice on units and have days off in the week.

[jan123 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your reply

To be honest my doctor isn't really that helpful - he just said to give up alcohol. I asked him if fatty liver could be reversed with diet and he said he didn't believe it could.

[rosmarin]

I think it should be OK if it is really that low as even some foods have a little alcohol in them.

However my husbands hepatologist said he should have zero alcohol meaning that the odd glass of wine at a party is a no no as the liver becomes ultra sensitive to alcohol.

My husband who was a problem drinker with beer and then cider gave up drinking completely about 7 years ago and felt much better for a while . He now drinks Beck blue which seems OK. I presume you have a form of cirrhosis with the fatty liver?

rosmarin.

[jan123 in reply to rosmarin]

Thanks for your reply Rosmarin.

The doctor didn't mention cirrhosis - my scan result was just 'diffuse fatty liver'.

It was only found by chance as I was having a scan for my hernia.

[gamesmaker]

My hepatologist advised no alcohol at all - but even long before I was diagnosied with fatty liver more than 10 years ago - and now progressed to

cirrhosis - I never had more than about a bottle of wine a month - so I do not mss it !!

[jan123 in reply to gamesmaker]

Thanks for your reply

It seems really bad luck that you have progressed to cirrhosis having drank what I consider is very little in a month.

Does it follow that if you have fatty liver it will inevitably progress to cirrhosis regardless?

[briccolone]

as the other posts indicate-doesn't seem to be a definitive answer. I haven't been diagnosed with fatty liver but definitely had drink related liver problems. Even becks blue 0.05% gave me some issues but after 3 months abstinence and a diet things much improved. I can now drink a couple of glasses of wine with water occasionally. As per kleams advice 2 or 3 days alcohol free per week at least and a couple of glasses of beer/wine shouldn't cause a problem but the liver specialsts say there is no such thing as a safe level of alcohol....

[jan123 in reply to briccolone]

There doesn't seem to be an answer, your right !

If I'm honest then I should give up totally but 0.05% seems so little. Its just that I do enjoy a drink with a meal out and Becks Blue seems to be the only non alcoholic beer that pubs sell.

Thanks

[anne-marie50]

Cobra Zero is better for you than Becks Blue

as its 0.000 no alcohol and in my opinion it

tastes nicer.

[jan123 in reply to anne-marie50]

That's really useful to know I will buy some and try it

Thanks

[Annastasia in reply to anne-marie50]

I believe 0.05% alcohol is just a labelling convention, since everything that is made of plant matter can have minute amounts of alcohol (I did biochemistry way back in the distant past). They often can't say '0%' because they cannot prove it is completely free of all alcohol - even some of the 0% stuff says in the small print "no more than 0.05% alcohol".

FWIW my favourite alcohol free drink is Koppaberg Pear Cider, the non-alcoholic version. It's full of sugar though, so not so good if you're diabetic. I occasionally drink Becks Blue, but only because it's more available. I find Cobra Zero undrinkable, for some reason. I also had some alcohol free rose wine over Christmas that was pretty good. I'm still allowed to drink moderately, by the way, but I thought it better to get used to not drinking in case my test results aren't so good.

[gamesmaker]

I think it is more complicated than just how much alcohol we drink now or in the past - mine has been diagnosed as 'non-alcohol related fatty liver' - and my sister who drinks hardly anything as well has the same diagnsois. I just think for me that any alcohol at all would make it worse. I am slightly overweight (not obese) and am working really hard at that, but losing weight is really hard as I am a diabetic on insulin and tablets so cannot cut down on food too much without affecting my diabetes

[Hidden]

So looks like we have a common theme here, confusion and conflicting information. It seems everyone including heath practitioners have differing opinions. It doesn't help when doctors and specialists give conflicting advice. I suppose each case is different. The question is, what is the right answer? I don't know!

I feel for Non Alcoholic FL sufferers, at least with drinking, you know its something you have done, certainly, until I have had these issues, I never knew liver issues could be caused by anything other than toxins.

I have been told at my doctors that I should limit the units, one doctor told me that she would recommend none at all but based on the fact that most people who have drunk to excess struggle to keep to a minimal amount. I have managed to keep to my new regime, and when I told her, she said that there was no problems with that. I know its very hard to resist sometimes, I feel very happy that I can do it.

My life has changed, no more thirsty Thursday (a few beers, a curry), I now drive everywhere when we go out which my wife likes. I have also have incredible support from my wife and 2 girls. I have also shared my issues at work and am able to have a laugh about it, it all helps.

Again, not sure, but its not a fact that fatty liver will progress to cirrhosis. As I understand it Fatty Liver is a reversible process. I think the best advise to anyone is to listen to your body, I think we all know when there is something wrong, I also think we have all known in the past (alcoholic FL sufferers) when we have drunk too much and, like smokers, we know that there are health risks involved. I think with drink, it feels good when you are in a group in the pub having a laugh and its infectious that way the same when you are up till the early hours with friends drinking. As with most things, it does catch up sooner or later.

Regarding the different alcohol free beers, I must admit that becks blue is my favourite, I think it has a very authentic taste, I like the cobra but I only like the taste when it is drunk from the bottle, once in a glass it seems to lose something. I also like Bavaria zero, there is a wheat beer in that range too that is nice.

It is a problem that pubs and restaurants don't serve that many alcohol free beers, Becks blue is the norm but if you don't like that, its a bit of an issue. One pub I went into with my wife soon after discovering my diagnosis, the bar man said 'well we have coke or J2O', not really what I was wanting.

Regarding diet etc and FL, I reckon that eating well with fresh veg, fruit, good meat and fish can only help matters, I also use milk thistle tablets, don't know if there is any true benefit but I reckon it works for me. I also try and get in plenty of exercise, my weight is not coming off as quick as I want but its a good sign, I believe more serious forms of liver disease result in weight loss unexplained.

Also, don't forget your pancreas is affected by drinking.

I suppose no one really knows if things are good or bad. I read from some American site that raw vegetable juices are good so I tried carrot juice and have to say I wouldn't again, I found it awful!

To close, a big issue with me is that my docs will not send me for another scan, it was this way that they found my issue but now want to monitor this condition by blood tests when my yearly ones never picked up liver issues before, that don't make sense to me,

Hope my words help other readers, I don't know the rights and wrongs, I know how i feel and from my viewpoint, its good to share stories and experiences,

Good Luck To All,

Keith

[kateline1 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks keith, this comment is good, sometimes health practioners do not want to do any further tests scans etc. unless we badger them!! and I agree with the reversal of the fatty liver, with low fat diets and less alcohol or none, it s not easy for everyone to cut it out altogether! I have been using milk thistle tablets more regularly, do you think these help??

[judyt in reply to kateline1]

Why in heaven's name would you want to continue drinking alcohol when you have been told you have liver damage?? Why would you walk down the middle of the road when you have been told that cars can kill you???

[Dorset123 in reply to judyt]

Hi, I was told I had ' a bit of fatty liver' 3 years ago by a consultant gastroenterologist/ hepatologist, but if I lost weight (BMI was 28) it would be fine. I asked if I should give up all alcohol & was told no need...just stick to guidelines...I ensured I had no more than 10 units per week & days without any (half the guidelines) & lost weight. I stopped drinking completely in March, but 6 months ago I was diagnosed as having cirrhosis (NASH) & I feel really stupid for listening to this 'half way house' advice re. drink. I should have simply stopped completely 3 years ago & perhaps this would have reversed. I was simply too busy living life to think......rubbish excuse!!

Good luck all

[judyt in reply to Dorset123]

OK, bad advice, but give yourself a break, too late to do much about it now . My opinion is that Docs, like the rest of us like a drink too and feel hypocritical telling patients not to drink alcohol when they do it themselves. A bit like a fat Doc telling you to lose weight or else!!

[jan123 in reply to judyt]

Hi

Following my original posting (see above) on being diagnosed with fatty liver I gave up alcohol completely (I did have a couple of drinks when Mum died in August) and I also lost weight. I felt much better and especially in the mornings. However over Christmas I have found that drink has crept back into my life and I feel so very cross with myself!! I never thought that I would let it and I'm surprised that it was so easy. I have even found myself watching the clock waiting for 6.00pm when it is more acceptable to open a bottle of red with the meal. Feeling very low.

[Annastasia in reply to judyt]

Telling you to lose weight is a bit of a problem too, since only about 4% of people who try to lose weight, succeed in the long run. Most people end up *heavier*, so effectively doctors are recommending a treatment that's going to make you worse (or has a 96% chance of making you worse).

[DDDC]

Found this: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/153...

Hope it helps!

[jan123]

Thank you for the info it was really kind of you to get back to me on this. I have tried to access the article but there is a small charge so will try to find it by other means

[Archie83 in reply to jan123]

Conclusion from the article - We suggest the complete elimination of ethanol from

the diets of patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. Even

minimal blood levels of 20-30 mg/dL, well under the

usual US 'legal limit' of 100 mg/dL, can cause cognitive

impairment. With slower metabolism and the risk

for hepatic encephalopathy, patients with cirrhosis

could experience more impairment from even minimal

ingestion of ethanol. In addition to non-alcoholic

beer, a number of over-the-counter medications containing

alcohol should be avoided. In managing the

complex health needs of patients with cirrhosis, perhaps

this simple recommendation should become

common practice and extended to patients with other

types of liver disease as well

[Hidden]

Hi

I have Nash, it has been caused by all the meds my drs have given me over the years. You all take care xxxx

[themanfromthelord]

Sutter Home and others make great Wine FRE Non Alcoholic Wines both whites and reds etc. They do actual contain 1/2 percent of alcohol as opposed to the 12 or more % regular wine has! God Bless!!