Patterns of alcohol consumption and nutrition intake in patients with alcoholic liver disease and alcoholic pancreatitis in North Indian men

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Chronic alcoholism and nutrition play an important role in liver and pancreatic diseases. To compare drinking habits and nutritional data in patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and alcoholic pancreatitis (ALP). METHODS: Clinical, anthropometric, dietary intake, laboratory, and imaging data were recorded in consecutive patients of ALD and ALP. RESULTS: In 150 patients of ALP (n = 76) and ALD (n = 74), the age of starting alcohol consumption (19.03 ± 3.78 vs 18.0 ± 2.59 years) and the mean amount of alcohol consumed per day (165.63 ± 87.99 vs 185.50 ± 113.54 g; P = 0.230) were similar. Patients with ALD consumed alcohol on a daily basis more frequently (90.5 vs 72.3%; P = 0.003) and had a longer duration of alcohol intake (21.6 + 0.2 vs 14.5 + 6.9 years; P < 0.0001) than patients in the ALP group. Binge drinking was more common in patients with ALP compared to patients with ALD (60.5 vs 20.3%); P < 0.0001). Patients with ALP had a lower body mass index (19.9 ± 3.49 vs 22.64 ± 4.88 kg/m(2); P = 0.001) and more frequent decrease in mid arm circumference (57.9 vs 44.6%; P = 0.042) and triceps skin fold thickness (67.1 vs 52.7%; P = 0.072) compared to patients with ALD. CONCLUSION: There was no difference in the age of starting alcohol consumption and mean amount of alcohol consumption per day between the groups. Patients with ALD were more likely to be daily drinkers with a longer duration of alcohol intake. However, binge drinking and malnourishment was more common in the ALP group.