When alcohol is consumed, the liver's attention is diverted from maintaining the sugar level to ridding the body of the alcohol, thus denying the brain the energy it needs to function properly. It is caused by the decreased breakdown of fatty acids by the liver and occurs when 30 to 50 percent or more of the drinker's dietary calories consist of alcohol. Acute fatty liver is reversible it alcohol use is stopped. Alcoholic hepatitis, which often follows a severe or prolonged bout of heavy drinking. The liver becomes inflamed, damaging many liver cells, and metabolism is seriously disturbed.
Alcoholic hepatitis is usually reversible with abstinence from alcohol.
In some drinkers, it can be fatal or can become chronic. Alcoholic hepatitis precedes alcoholic cirrhosis in some cases. Cirrhosis of the liver, a condition in which there is major destruction of liver cells and a build-up of scar tissue. One in 10 long-term heavy drinkers eventually develops cirrhosis of the liver. Because of the irreversible damage caused, a person with cirrhosis will most likely die within five years.