Some laboratory correlates of drinking habits

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Hematology
• Clinical Chemistry

Background:

• Alcohol consumption is a prevalent lifestyle factor with potential health implications.
• Biochemical and hematological markers are routinely used in health assessments.
• Understanding the influence of drinking habits on these markers is essential for accurate health evaluations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between alcohol intake and the frequency distributions of eight biochemical and hematological test results.
• To identify specific biomarkers affected by habitual alcohol consumption.
• To inform the interpretation of health screening results in relation to drinking habits.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from 7915 patients undergoing multiphasic health testing.
• Statistical examination of the relationship between self-reported drinking habits and laboratory test results.
• Focus on eight specific biochemical and hematological parameters, including liver function tests.

Main Results:

• Elevated levels of plasma gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, triglycerides, uric acid, and erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume were associated with increased alcohol intake.
• Aspartate aminotransferase showed a strong correlation with drinking habits among the tested liver function tests.
• Other liver function tests (alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, albumin) were less affected.

Conclusions:

• Habitual alcohol consumption, even at common levels, alters several key biochemical and hematological markers.
• Plasma gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume are sensitive indicators of alcohol intake.
• These findings aid in detecting detrimental drinking patterns and refining the interpretation of health profiles.