Hard Liquor Increases Risk of Pancreatitis

By Elina Shatkin Mon., Aug. 8 2011 at 3:31 PM

Liquor bottles behind the bar at 1886 in Pasadena.

Candy may be dandy but liquor is quicker, especially when it comes to increasing your risk of pancreatitis. Drinking just 4 cl. (centilitre) of hard liquor, the equivalent of 1.35 US fluid ounces (or a little more than a typical 1-oz. shot), can increase the risk of an acute attack of pancreatitis, but wine or beer does not appear to have the same effect. These are the results of a Swedish study conducted at Karolinska Institutet and recently published by the British Journal of Surgery.

The study explored the effects of different types of alcohol on acute pancreatitis attacks, which declined in both Sweden and Finland when spirits sales declined even when sales of whine and beer increased.

For 10 years, researchers followed 84,601 people aged 46 to 84 in Vastmanland and Uppsala. During that time, 513 developed acute pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas most commonly caused by gallstones or too much boozing.

The risk also increased proportionally, researchers found. Drinking 20 cl. of spirits (6.76 US fluid ounces or five standard Swedish measures) on a single occasion increased the likelihood of an attack by 52%. Drinking more than five 15 cl. glasses of wine (5 oz.) or five 33 cl. beers (11 oz.) on a single occasion did not increase the risk.

The Upshot: If you're prone to pancreatitis, cut out the boozing -- but you shouldn't need a team of Swedish researchers to tell you that.

Tags:

Alcohol, British Journal of Surgery, Elina Shatkin, Hard Liquor, Health, Karolinska Institutet, Pancreatitis, Spirits, Weird Science

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Irene

I had first attack at age 11. My mother had gall bladder removed and still had pancreatitis all her adult life and died without ever finding the cause. Seven years ago attacks started at the age of 48. My attacks have stopped because I discovered allgeries to sulpha drugs and parabens that are added to meds and foods as a preservatives. After many tests and doctors, and expense, I figured this out for myself. (God answered my prayers.) Healthy foods make us feel better because we are avoiding foods with msg's, etc. The last attack I had, one simple Benedryl stopped the pain inside of an hour. The diuretic causing my attacks was hydrochlorothiazide, which is prescribed to millions of people! I Pray to God this info will help someone!

Hadleytomicki

513 out of every 84,601? I like those odds.

Tom Bigbee

"513 out of every 84,601? I like those odds."

Especially since there are no other health risks out there.

Luke Erick

Your source is mistaken, Elina. Research I have personally conducted demonstrates that all alcoholic beverages -- wine and beer, as well as hard liquor -- increase the risk of procreatus. Roses and a little poetry also help.