Alcohol and dietary factors in cirrhosis. An epidemiological study of 304 alcoholic patients.

Alcohol intakes and dietary habits of 304 alcoholic, hospitalized patients were evaluated. There were 195 patients with hepatic cirrhosis, 40 precirrhotics, and 69 noncirrhotics. Alcohol contributed 50% to 58% of total calories. Two thirds of the patients drank excessively for more than 20 years. There were no statistically significant differences between the three groups in the duration or degree of alcohol excess. Dietary intakes were assessed for a period of at least two years before the presenting illness. Noncirrhotics had higher food caloric intakes and higher protein intakes than the cirrhotics (P less than .05). The findings suggest that dietary factors may be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease.