A new study suggests that diet and exercise may play a powerful role in protecting the liver, even for people who drink alcohol regularly.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 60,000 U.S. adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), linking lifestyle patterns to liver-related mortality. They found that people who followed a healthier diet and engaged in higher levels of physical activity had a significantly lower risk of dying from alcohol-related liver disease, regardless of whether they were light, moderate or heavy drinkers.
“A significant knowledge gap exists regarding the interplay of dietary patterns and physical activity with alcohol-attributable liver-specific mortality,” said lead investigator Dr. Naga Chalasani of Indiana University School of Medicine. “It remains unclear whether a healthy diet and physical activity can lower liver-specific mortality in individuals engaging in high-risk alcohol consumption, such as heavy or binge drinking.”
The study, published in the Journal of Hepatology, found that healthy eating reduced liver mortality risk by 86% in heavy drinkers and 84% in binge drinkers, while physical activity cut the risk by 36% and 69%, respectively.
“We found that adherence to high levels of physical activity and/or diet quality was associated with a lower risk of liver-related death across all drinking patterns,” Chalasani said.
The researchers noted that their analysis is the first to look at both diet and physical activity together across different levels of alcohol use, giving a more complete picture of how lifestyle influences liver risk. They also added that women face a higher risk of alcohol-related liver death than men but appear to benefit more from diet and exercise.
A healthier eating pattern, rich in fruits, vegetables, grains, seafood, plant-based proteins and healthy fats while low in added sugars, solid fats and alcohol, was strongly associated with reduced liver mortality risk. Regular physical activity amplified those benefits, particularly among high-risk drinkers.
The findings are especially relevant for economically disadvantaged populations, where heavy alcohol use often overlaps with poor diet and limited opportunities for exercise.
This study was supported by departmental internal funding at Indiana University School of Medicine.