Is a dry January really worth it?

New Scientist staff forswore alcohol for a month and reduced their liver fat by 15 per cent
(Image: Dave Stock for New Scientist)

Does "Dry January", that  period of abstinence after the excesses of the holiday season, have significant health benefits?  Rajiv Jalan at the Institute for Liver and Digestive Health at University College London Medical School (UCLMS) worked with 14 members of the New Scientist staff – all of whom consider themselves to be "normal" drinkers. The staff answered questionnaires about  health and drinking habits and had ultrasound scans to measure the amount of fat on the liver. Finally, they gave blood samples, used to analyse levels of metabolic chemicals linked with the liver and overall health.
Some continued to drink, the rest abstained for 5 weeks and were then tested again. There was no change in any of the parameters for those who continued to drink. Those who abstained saw a drop of 15% -20% in liver fat. These results indicate that even a relatively short period of abstinence impacts on the liver.

More at New Scientist

Thanks Bruce!