FATTY LIVER- WHAT IT IS AND HOW TO PREVENT IT?— By Dr Vishal Khurana (Senior Gastroenterologist, Faridabad)

 FATTY LIVER- WHAT IT IS AND HOW TO PREVENT IT?— By Dr Vishal Khurana (Senior Gastroenterologist, Faridabad)



Fatty liver is a condition where excess fat is deposited on this organ. Also called as steatosis, this condition happens when more than 5- 10 percent of the weight of the liver is made up of fat. 

Fatty liver is a common condition among people. A study from coastal regions of India found ~ 25% of healthy persons had patients had fatty liver on ultrasound.

It can occur at all ages including childhood, highest prevalence is in 40–50 year age group. Prevalence more in patient who are obese and in diabetic patients. 


Types of Fatty Liver

  1. Alcoholic fatty liver: This condition occurs when there is a heavy consumption of alcohol. Gastroenterologists recommend abstention from alcohol for this condition to subside. If the patient continues to consume alcohol, then liver cirrhosis may develop. 
  2. Non alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL): One may develop a fatty liver  even if one is not an alcoholic. The liver in some cases is unable to process the fat in cells causing them to build-up on the organ. 

When more than 10% of the liver is made of fat then this condition is called Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver (NAFL). 

Non alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH): When fatty liver is associated with inflammation in liver patient is said to be having Non alcoholic steatohepatitis. NASH is a more advanced stage of NAFLD, and has a higher risk of progressing to liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). These condition display symptoms like jaundice, vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite and abdominal pain. Blood test (LFT) shows raised enzymes level. Approx 5-8% of the Indian population has NASH. Consult a doctor if you are experiencing any of these symptoms.

  1. Fatty liver during pregnancy: Occurring mainly in the third trimester, the symptoms of this condition are vomiting, nausea, pain the right part of the abdomen and jaundice.




Symptoms

During the early stages (fatty liver) of the disease, patients usually have no symptoms directly related to liver disease. However, people may experience a vague abdominal discomfort. If their liver is inflamed (NASH) then they may display symptoms of poor appetite, weight loss, pain in the abdomen and disorientation.


What causes fatty liver?

The most common cause of fatty liver is alcoholism. When the human liver is unable to metabolize fat fast enough or when there is an excess accumulation of fat on the liver cells then the liver becomes fatty. However, intake of high-fat foods may not result in a fatty liver.


Predisposing factor: 

  1. Diabetes mellitus
  2. Obesity or being overweight
  3. Hyperlipidemia or the condition where there are high levels of fat in the blood
  4. Genetic reasons
  5. Rapid loss of weight
  6. Drugs: Aspirin, steroids, tamoxifen, tetracycline etc
  7. Nutritional status (eg, overnutrition, severe malnutrition, total parenteral nutrition [TPN], or starvation diet)
  8. Other health problems (eg, Hepatitis C infection, celiac sprue and Wilson disease) 


Complications of Fatty Liver Disease

Some serious complications of a fatty liver include:

  • Liver Cirrhosis
  • Non-alcoholic steatorrhoeic hepatitis (NASH) could often lead to the fatal liver cancer







Treatment and Management of Fatty Liver

Fatty liver can be treated and managed by making some adjustments to our lifestyle and controlling the underlying causes. Some ways by which fatty liver can be controlled are: 

  • Weight loss and exercise
  • Aerobic exercise (eg brisk walk) 30-45 min per day and at least 5days per week
  • Proper management of diabetes
  • Monitoring of medications for other health conditions like high blood cholesterol and sugar levels
  • Limiting the usage of drugs that could damage the liver


Dietary modifications

Keeping a check on what you eat works best in managing a fatty liver. Some dietary recommendations are

  • Consume less of refined carbohydrates like white bread, pasta, noodles, pastry, cakes, and biscuits
  • Eat raw fruits/vegetables
  • Avoid deep-fried/processed foods
  • Limit dairy products like milk, cream, butter and processed cheese
  • Avoid margarine/similar spreads
  • Avoid sugar based processed foods/drinks, and artificial sweeteners
  • Drink plenty of water


Prevention of Fatty Liver Disease

This is a highly preventable condition. Prevention plays a major role as the condition may not display any prominent symptoms. Fatty liver can be prevented as mentioned in the management of fatty liver section. Some important tips for its prevention are:

  • A healthy lifestyle
  • A well-balanced diet
  • Avoiding excess alcohol consumption
  • Weight management with a regular physical exercise regimen
  • Aerobic exercise (eg brisk walk) 30-45 min per day and at least 5days per week

Also, since the symptoms are usually not pronounced, a regular preventive health checkup is an ideal method to detect a fatty liver. Also, an early detection of this condition can prevent its most fatal complications like liver cirrhosis or even liver cancer.







 

Dr Vishal Khurana

MBBS, MD, DM (Gastro), MNAMS, Mem.WEO, Mem.ACG

Senior Gastroenterologist

Metro hospital, Sector 16A, Faridabad, Haryana, India

Getwel Medicentre, sector 86, Faridabad, Haryana, India

Mobile: 7289840710

Location: Faridabad, Haryana, India

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