Gujarat Doctor Explains Why Indians Face Higher Fatty Liver Risk Than Europeans

Last Updated:February 17, 2026, 12:36 IST

Dr Harsh Vyas spoke about two 37-year-old patients from his practice: an Italian who consumes alcohol two to three times a week and an Indian non-drinker.

He explained that the way alcohol is processed in the body differs across populations. (Representative Image)

We often hear people say that Europeans drink regularly yet don’t seem to develop fatty liver as commonly as Indians do. Is it genetics, diet or something else? A Gujarat-based doctor recently tried to answer this question through real-life examples from his practice.

Dr Harsh Vyas who is a preventive and diagnostic radiologist, spoke about two 37-year-old patients from his practice: an Italian who consumes alcohol two to three times a week and an Indian non-drinker. He mentioned that while the Indian was diagnosed with fatty liver, the Italian who consumes more alcohol didn’t have any such signs. Using their cases, he argued that alcohol alone does not explain liver health differences and instead pointed to overall lifestyle factors.

Genetics: How The Body Breaks Down Alcohol

Dr Vyas explained that the way alcohol is processed in the body differs across populations. He said that in many Europeans, the enzymes responsible for breaking down alcohol (alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase) are more active compared to many Asians.

“Matlab jo intermediate toxic metabolites bante hai alcohol ke, wo European population mein acchi tarah se ban kar wash out ho jate hai (The intermediate toxic metabolites formed from alcohol are processed and washed out properly in the European population),” he explained.

He further noted that in many Asians, these toxic by-products stay in the body longer and are cleared more slowly. This prolonged exposure can increase liver stress and injury over time.

Diet: Refined Carbs vs Balanced Nutrition

The doctor then shifted focus to food habits. When he asked the Italian patient about his diet, he found that it was rich in complex carbohydrates, seafood, olive oil and adequate protein.

Healthy fats from fish and olive oil along with higher protein intake, help support liver function. Meanwhile, Dr Vyas pointed out that many Indian diets rely heavily on refined carbohydrates.

“And agar humara Indian diet dekhe, toh zydatar hum refined carbohydrates par dependent hai, (If we look at the Indian diet, we are mostly dependent on refined carbohydrates),” he said and added that protein intake is often low and healthy fats are not consumed in sufficient amounts.

He suggested that this nutritional imbalance can contribute to fatty liver even in people who don’t drink.

Exercise: The Lifestyle Difference

Physical activity was another major difference between the two patients. The European patient exercised for at least 30–40 minutes daily and also walked around 6 km every day.

“Ab Indian population mein mere ko btao, kitne log hai jo regular 30 to 40 minutes exercise karte hai (Now tell me, how many people in the Indian population exercise regularly for 30–40 minutes?),” he questioned.

The point he was making was simple: consistent movement and an active lifestyle help the body recover better from minor damage including the effects of alcohol.

Alcohol Is Toxic But Lifestyle Matters

Dr Vyas made it clear that alcohol is harmful regardless of the amount.

“Agar aap alcohol thode amount mein bhi loge toh wo toxic hi hai (Even if you consume alcohol in small amounts, it is still toxic),” he said.

But he concluded that in some populations, overall healthier lifestyles help them recover from minor liver stress.

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