Alcohol consumption and poor nutrition across Europe inflicting huge liver disease burden, warn leading experts

(Gastein, September 30, 2020) Heavy alcohol consumption and poor nutritional choices are contributing to a huge rise in the prevalence of liver disease across Europe, experts at the European Health Forum in Gastein have warned.

Professor Shira Zelber-Sagi, from the Tel Aviv Medical Centre, Israel, explained how two diseases – non-alcoholic fatty litter disease (NAFLD) and alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) – are significantly increasing the burden of liver disease.

NAFLD is a global health burden and approximately one in four Europeans have the disease. It is, primarily, an obesity-driven disease, with data suggesting that the adoption and increase in western-style diets is fuelling this rising prevalence. Over half (52%) of the adult EU population is now overweight or obese, with rates continuing to rise at a concerning pace with little expectation of decreasing in the near future.

The European region also has the highest proportion of total ill health and premature death linked directly to alcohol consumption. The heaviest drinking region in the world, over one fifth of the European populated aged 15 years and above are drinking heavily at least once a week. Alcohol consumption is an independent risk for, and primary cause of, liver cancer, with more than half of all primary liver cancer cases caused by cirrhosis brought on by harmful intake of alcohol.

“People with obesity can also have alcohol-induced liver damage and behavioural risk factors for NAFLD and ARLD frequently co-exist, particularly among populations of lower socioeconomic status”, comments Professor Zelber-Sagi. “The presence of NAFLD and ARLD synergistically accelerates liver damage and there is an urgent need to prevent these two leading causes for liver disease simultaneously”.

What can be done?

Healthy lifestyle choices are the most effective preventative measure against obesity and heavy alcohol consumption, reducing the risk of subsequent digestive and liver diseases.

In combatting unhealthy dietary patterns, United European Gastroenterology (UEG) calls for:

• The adoption of mandatory front-of-pack labelling across the EU
• Incentives for reducing the production of processed and ultra-processed foods
• Policies that restrict the marketing of fast foods, especially to children
• The taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages
• Subsidies to increase the intake of healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables

“Consistent government-led systems will help to provide consumers with improved and credible evaluative judgements about the nutritional content within their food product and give them the opportunity to make fully informed decisions”, explains Professor Zelber-Sagi. “In turn, this will encourage consumers to reduce their intake of ultra-processed, unhealthy foods, and help drive food manufacturers to reformulate their products.”

In tackling heavy alcohol consumption, UEG calls for:

• Increased investment in public education campaigns to increase awareness of the impact of heavy alcohol consumption
• Detailed, government-monitored alcohol labelling to become Europe-wide regulation
• Policies that restrict the marketing of alcohol
• Minimum unit pricing

Professor Markus Peck, Chair of the UEG Public Affairs Committee, adds “We need the European Commission and national governments to act now on initiatives to change the way in which we buy and consume unhealthy foods and alcohol. If we are to fight this heavy burden of liver disease and other gastrointestinal conditions such as digestive cancers, and the loss of life that these diseases bring, then we must act now.”

Read UEG Report: Nutrition and Chronic Digestive Diseases: An Action Plan for Europe

Read UEG Report: Alcohol and Digestive Cancers: Time for Change

Read UEG Position Paper: Position paper addressing unhealthy dietary patterns through mandatory front-of-pack labelling