Finnish researchers found that individuals with diabetes or a high waist circumference who consumed higher average amounts of alcohol were at an increased risk of developing liver disease. The findings in the journal Hepatology, based on an analysis of the Finnish Health 2000 study data involving 6,732 individuals without liver disease, revealed that the main metabolic factors that raise liver disease risk include abnormal blood glucose levels, insulin resistance, low LDL cholesterol levels, high body mass index and abdominal obesity. The findings suggest that people with metabolic risk factors may be more prone to alcohol-related liver damage, and that there is significant overlap of the risk factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcohol-related liver disease (ALD).