CONDITION
Fatty Liver
Fatty liver disease (FLD) is a serious health condition in which excess fat builds up in the liver. It’s one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease, and it can lead to a wide range of complications.
There are several forms of FLD, including
- nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD),
- alcoholic fatty liver disease (ALD) and
- steatohepatitis (STH).
The most common type is NAFLD, which affects up to 30 percent of people worldwide—and that number is likely even higher among those taking statins or other drugs for high cholesterol levels or heart disease.
If you’re concerned about your risk for developing FLD or want to learn more about how it’s treated and prevented, read on!
Causes of Fatty Livers
What Is It?
Fatty liver disease, also known as hepatic steatosis, is a condition in which the liver becomes inflamed because of an accumulation of fat. The liver is the body’s largest internal organ and is responsible for filtering blood and producing bile, which helps to breakdown fats in food before they can be absorbed into your body. Fatty liver disease occurs when too much fat accumulates in your liver cells—this can happen if you drink too much alcohol or eat a diet high in fat (including trans fats).
A healthy liver may contain between 5% and 10% of its weight as fat; however, people with fatty livers usually have more than 20%. As the amount of stored fat increases in the liver, it may become severely scarred—this makes it difficult for blood to flow through certain parts of the organ causing serious damage.
Fatty liver is commonly associated with obesity, underlying metabolic disease such as diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, heart diseases.
There are also underlying genetic causes especially in Asian population. Alcohol on the other hand causes alcoholic related fatty liver disease.
Note that alcoholic fatty liver disease can be reversible if you stop drinking alcohol.
If it’s not treated, your liver may need to be removed or replaced with a transplant in the future.
- Get a test to check as soon as possible.
- Do not self medicate .
Risk Factors for Fatty Liver
Alcohol-related fatty liver disease is caused by drinking too much alcohol over long periods.
You are at risk of fatty liver disease related to alcohol if you:
- drink more than 10 standard drinks a week
- binge drink (have more than 4 standard drinks in a day)
Symptoms of Fatty Liver
Watch for these Symptoms
Fatty liver often does not cause obvious symptoms. So, you may not know you have fatty liver disease until you see a doctor and have some routine tests checked.
However, some of the signs below may show that you have serious fatty liver disease:
- Passing Out Black Stool
- Bruising
- Dark Urine
- Itchy Skin
- Swollen Tummy
- Vomiting Blood
- Yellowing of the eyes and skin (Jaundice)
Diagnosis of Fatty Liver
Your doctor will provide you with a diagnosis of fatty liver if:
- Your blood test shows that your liver enzymes are elevated, or
- Your ultrasound shows fatty material in the liver, or
- You have mild to moderate fibrosis (scarring) on your Fibroscan result.
Treatment of Fatty Liver
There are several treatment options for a fatty liver. The first step is to determine the cause of your fatty liver. Your doctor will order a liver biopsy, which involves inserting a needle into your liver and removing small samples of tissue for testing.
A biopsy can also help determine whether you have nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, which requires different treatments than those used to treat simple fatty liver disease.
If you have simple fatty liver disease, treatment usually involves
- Stopping alcohol use
- Maintaining a healthy diet
- Exercising regularly (at least 30 minutes three times per week)
Your doctor may also recommend that you to take vitamin B supplements in order to prevent neurological damage caused by inflammation linked to alcohol consumption.
Additionally, tests will be performed periodically to monitor the health status of your organ function through blood workups including levels of various enzymes found within cells called GGTs or GOTs (gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase) which indicate how well your livers are functioning overall – low levels indicate too much fat content within cells while high numbers indicate damaged tissue due to excessive inflammation from chronic drinking habits over long periods time frame (more than 5 years).
Fatty Liver Prevention
- Avoid alcohol.
If you’re genetically predisposed to fatty liver, or if you have a history of alcoholism or heavy drinking, your risk is even higher. Drinking can lead to impaired judgment and gout as well as acute pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).
- Eat a healthy diet.
You should follow the same kind of eating plan that’s recommended for diabetes and high blood pressure—that is,
- low in saturated fat, cholesterol and trans fats;
- moderate in protein (mostly plant-based) with plenty of fruits and vegetables;
- low-glycemic index foods that release their sugars slowly into your bloodstream over time;
- enough fiber from whole grains along with moderate amounts of lean meat or fish two times per week;
- no more than one serving daily from each food group that contains refined sugar (like fruit juice), complex carbohydrates (like potatoes), starchier veggies like corn and lima beans;
- no more than one serving daily from each food group containing nuts/seeds/legumes like beans/peanuts/soybeans—and no grain products made with gluten (wheat flour) such as wheat breads & pastas!
- Exercise regularly.
Even mild exercise can help fend off fatty liver disease by improving insulin sensitivity and helping keep blood sugar under control but excessive exercise has been shown to increase one’s risk so make sure not go overboard here either! Remember: moderation in all things!
Fatty liver disease is serious but it can be prevented.
You can prevent or delay the onset of fatty liver disease by making healthy lifestyle choices. Your primary care provider will help you create an individualized plan for preventing fatty liver disease, including:
- Eating a healthy diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in fiber, fruits, vegetables and whole grains
- Getting regular exercise
- Avoiding alcohol and drugs
- Managing stress
Conclusion
Fatty liver disease is a serious condition that can lead to more serious conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
However, there are many ways to prevent this disease from developing in the first place by eating healthy foods and exercising regularly. If you think that you may have fatty liver disease or need to learn more about it, contact your doctor as soon as possible!
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