Alcohol breaks down into a reactive, cancer-causing by-product. The clearest gains from stopping are sleep and blood pressure; lower cancer and stroke risk, fewer irregular heart rhythm recurrences and better blood sugar handling follow. The main hazard is abrupt stopping in someone dependent, which can be fatal without medical cover. Changes are modest for light drinkers, substantial for heavy ones. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| GGT | < 25 U/L (men), < 20 U/L (women) | Most alcohol-responsive liver enzyme |
| ALT and AST | < 25 U/L, AST:ALT ratio < 1.0 | Detects ongoing liver-cell injury |
| MCV | 80–90 fL | Rises with sustained heavy intake |
| PEth | Undetectable (< 20 ng/mL) | Direct, specific marker of recent intake |
| Blood pressure | < 120/80 mmHg | Primary trial-confirmed outcome |
| Fasting insulin and HOMA-IR | Insulin < 6 µIU/mL, HOMA-IR < 1.5 | Tracks the metabolic gain |
| Triglycerides | < 100 mg/dL | Alcohol raises them acutely and chronically |
| HDL cholesterol | > 50 mg/dL (men), > 60 mg/dL (women) | Expected to fall — prevents misreading |
| Uric acid | 3.5–5.5 mg/dL | Falls with cessation; gout risk |
| Serum magnesium and potassium | Magnesium 2.0–2.4 mg/dL, potassium 4.0–4.5 mmol/L | Determines withdrawal safety |
Cadence: Baseline before stopping; liver panel and blood pressure repeated at four weeks, again at three months, then every six to twelve months once stable. Wearable sleep and heart-rate-variability data repay nightly review through the first fortnight.