Alcohol and dietary intake in the development of chronic pancreatitis and liver disease in alcoholism

Alcohol and dietary intake were determined in alcoholic patients with chronic pancreatitis and alcoholic liver disease. Patients with chronic pancreatitis, alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis ingested ~50% of their calories as alcohol, and all had low mean intakes of protein, carbohydrate, and fat as compared with control subjects. Patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis had the lowest intake of nonalcohol calories and protein. Women with chronic pancreatitis had ingested alcohol for a shorter period of time than men whereas women with alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis had ingested less alcohol per kilogram body weight per day as compared with men. This study does not support the hypothesis that consumption of a high-protein and high-fat diet is a factor in the development of chronic pancreatitis in the alcoholic patient. The increased susceptibility of women as compared with men to alcoholic liver disease is established.