Which of the following is a common cause of cirrhosis?

Cirrhosis is a progressive liver disease characterized by the replacement of healthy liver tissue with scar tissue, which ultimately impairs liver function. Alcohol consumption is one of the most common and well-established causes of cirrhosis. Chronic excessive alcohol intake leads to alcoholic liver disease, causing inflammation, fatty liver, and eventually the development of fibrosis and cirrhosis. The liver metabolizes alcohol, and excessive amounts can overwhelm its capacity to process this substance safely. This results in direct cellular damage and the activation of inflammatory processes that contribute to scar tissue formation.

While obesity can contribute to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which may progress to cirrhosis, it is less direct than the relationship between alcohol consumption and liver damage. Similarly, excessive exercise and a high protein diet are not directly associated with cirrhosis. Excessive exercise might even be beneficial for liver health in a general sense, and while a high protein diet is critical for overall nutrition, it is not a recognized cause of liver disease leading to cirrhosis. Thus, alcohol consumption is the factor with the most definitive impact on the development of cirrhosis.