Question -How long does it typically take for hepatic steatosis to develop as a result of the drinking of alcohol?
Answer- The cited reference notes “In most persons who consistently drink more than 60 g per day (i.e., approximately four standard drinks, with a standard drink [i.e., 12 oz of beer, 5 oz of wine, or 1.5 oz of 80-proof liquor] containing approximately 14 g of alcohol) for as little as 2 years, liver steatosis will develop, which is reversible with cessation of alcohol intake.” (Lieber CS, et al. Effects of prolonged ethanol intake: production of fatty liver despite adequate diets. J Clin Invest 1965; 44:1009-1021 as cited in Fuster D and Samet JH. Alcohol use in patients with chronic liver disease. 2018 NEJM 379:1251-1261)
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