What is a fatty liver?
A fatty liver is the result of the excess fat in liver cells. Fatty tissue slowly builds up in the liver when a person’s diet exceeds the amount of fat his or her body can handle. A person has a fatty liver when fat makes up at least 5% of the liver?
- Simple fatty liver can be a completely benign condition and usually does not lead to liver damage. However, once there is a buildup of simple fat, the liver becomes vulnerable to further injury, which may result in inflammation and scarring of the liver?
- Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease illustration used with permission from MayoClinic.com. All rights reserved
What is Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)?
NAFLD is a progressive complex of liver disease which starts with fat accumulation in the liver without excessive alcohol consumption. It is strongly associated with metabolic syndrome.
What is Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)?
NASH stands for Non-Alcoholic steatohepatitis and it? Represents the more severe end of the spectrum of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Steatohepatitis means fatty liver with inflammation, in other words, ongoing damage similar to alcoholic liver disease but in this case it occurs in people who do not drink alcohol or drink minimally?
NASH differs from the simple accumulation of fat in the liver, which is a completely benign condition. Up to 20% of adults with NASH develop cirrhosis and up to 11% may experience liver-related deaths. Many individuals develop chronic liver failure and require liver transplantation. The prevalence of NASH is 2-6% in the general population.
Can children develop fatty liver disease?
Fatty liver disease is the most common cause of liver disease in children. Almost 10% of children may have NAFLD, due in large part to an alarming increase in childhood obesity 15? Fatty liver disease affects almost 3% of children and 22 – 53% of obese children. Fatty liver disease can be found in children as young as four years of age. The chances of developing? NAFLD increases with age, thus is more common in adolescents.
What are the symptoms of fatty liver disease?
In general, people with fatty liver disease have no symptoms. However, some people report discomfort in the abdomen at the level of the liver, fatigue, a general feeling of being unwell and vague discomfort.
How is fatty liver disease diagnosed?
Fatty liver disease is usually suspected in patients who? have abnormal? liver tests (ALT, AST, GGT) or have an enlarged liver?18. An ultrasound of the liver can suggest the presence of a fatty liver. Other diagnose methods may be used such as computed tomography (CT), proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-MRS), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 13. In some cases, your doctor may advise a liver biopsy, a procedure where the physician inserts a needle into the liver and extracts a sample tissue, which is then examined under a microscope.
What is the treatment?
Currently, there is no medication proven to effectively treat fatty liver disease,?if the main causes are related to obesity, diabetes and dyslipidemia.17.?The treatment is based in lifestyle modification, weight loss, and physical activity in order to reduce the amount of fat in the liver. Patients who are obese are advised to achieve a gradual and sustained weight loss through proper nutrition and exercise. ?The weight loss should be around 5-10% of body weigh to reduce steatosis and above 10% to improve the inflammation in patients with NASH13.
Patients with diabetes and high lipids in their blood have to improve their sugar control and lower lipids levels. Usually, a low fat, low calorie diet is recommended along with insulin or medications to lower blood sugar in people with diabetes20.
Some studies have shown beneficial effects of coffee. The caffeine intake loweres the incidence of abnormal liver enzymes. It is also associated with liver protection. There is an inverse association between coffee consumption and NAFLD12. ?Other studies suggested ?the use of Vit E it may improve the steatosis and reduce the inflammation1.?
Can fatty liver disease be prevented?
By choosing a healthy life style, you may prevent obesity - the number one reason for fatty liver disease. Please remember that a healthy diet and exercise are important components of any weight-loss regimen. The following are some suggestions for preventing fatty liver disease5:
- Choose to lead a healthy lifestyle.
- If you are overweight, strive for a gradual and sustained weight loss.
- Eat a well-balanced diet that is low in saturated fats and high in fibre.
- Minimize sugar consumption, reduce the intake of fried food
- Introduce exercise into your routine, at least four times a week. You can enjoy walking, swimming, gardening, stretching.
- Avoid alcohol.