How to manage fatty liver
A view of Dr.Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Centre in Dubai.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a medical condition that is characterized by the build-up of extra fat in liver cells.
In general, fatty liver is a benign condition; however, has become increasingly common in the world due to the rapid increasing cases of obesity and weight gain.
Risk factors of fatty liver is obesity, overweight, diabetes, elevated cholesterol and triglyceride and also poor eating habits.
Most patients with NAFLD are asymptomatic, although some patients may complain of fatigue, malaise, and vague right upper abdominal discomfort. Usually fatty liver is accidental finding when a person undergoing routine blood tests or abdominal ultrasound. Levels of 2 liver enzymes ALT & AST are elevated in patients with NASH.
Some of patients with fatty liver develops liver inflammation that calls nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). It is unknown why NASH is occurring however it is more seen in patients with diabetes, insulin résistance and obese patients.
Many patients with NASH will not develop serious liver disease but in some of the patients it gets worst over time and resulted in scars in the liver and eventually may be resulted in Cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is not treatable by medications and only liver transplant is the treatment.
NAFLD is not treatable but we can prevent of progressing this disease.
Diagnosis of NAFLD and NASH is by blood test, abdominal ultrasound and Fibro scan.
First line of treatment is weight, blood sugar control, cholesterol and Triglyceride control, avoid alcohol, taking Vitamin E for a short time. Some studies found out that taking low dose of aspirin can be beneficial.
Weight loss reduces the fatty liver by reducing the liver enzymes and insulin and it can stop its progress however weight loss should be gradual. overweight or obese patients are advised to lose five to seven percent of body weight at a rate of 0.5 to 1.0 kg per week but in those patients with NASH, the weight loss goal is higher (7 to 10 percent of body weight).
Although NASH is not a predisposition factor of liver cancer, it’s been predicted that by 2030 fatty liver will be the main cause of liver disease and liver transplant in children and adults.
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