Overall characteristics of retained studies.

Background and aimsNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide, with its prevalence and incidence continually increasing. However, the impact of alcohol consumption on the development and progression of hepatic steatosis has not been systematically investigated. Our aim was to estimate the impact of alcohol consumption on the development and progression of NAFLD.MethodsThe Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) standards were followed. We conducted a search of Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library without language restrictions, covering the period from inception to December 31, 2023. Abstract screening, full-text review, and data extraction were performed in duplicate.ResultsWe identified 16 articles that reported adjusted data (Japan = 7, other countries = 9). Random-effects categorical meta-analyses were conducted to compare alcohol consumption levels (ConclusionThis study summarizes the impact of alcohol consumption on the incidence and prevalence of NAFLD. In prevalence, light drinking in men was associated with a lower prevalence of NAFLD, whereas light drinking was associated with a higher incidence of NAFLD.