Fatty liver: The start of a serious disease

Though fatty liver is commonly seen among heavy alcoholics and in patients with chronic viral hepatitis, its presence in diabetics, in patients with high cholesterol and triglycerides, and in overweight or obese individuals – adults and kids alike – makes it a growing concern of the new millennium. What is needed alarming is that, according to Dr. Joel Lavine, University of California, San Diego, fatty liver has been found in obese children as young as three years old and its complication of cirrhosis as young as age seven.

Excessive alcohol intake of more than three bottles of beer, one shot of whiskey, or 100cc of wine daily may lead to fatty liver. Prolonged alcohol intake may then cause liver inflammation and later cirrhosis. If the fatty liver is not associated with alcohol intake, it is called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Fatty liver is simply a condition of excessive accumulation of fat in the liver cells. Most of individuals with fatty liver have no symptoms though some individuals may have non-specific symptoms of abdominal pains or enlargement of the abdomen and skin yellowing, depending on the severity of the disease. Simple non-alcoholic fatty liver (or steatosis) usually does not damage the liver, but its more severe form, non-alcoholic steatothepatitis (NASH), which is associated with inflammations of liver cirrhosis and even liver cancer.

Fatty liver disease and NASH are usually detected only because of abnormal laboratory examinations, more specially an elevated liver enzyme (AST/ALT) or an abnormal ultrasound result. Blood sugar levels and cholesterol and triglycerides amy also be elevated depending on the cause. A CT scan or MRI may also detect fatty liver with better accuracy than ultrasound. To differentiate simple fatty liver and HASH, however, a liver biopsy may have to be done.

Presently, there is no standard medical treatment specific for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Treatment basically consists of treatment of the underlying cause. In its early stages, fatty liver may be reversible, but once cirrhosis and even liver cancer sets in, liver transplantation may be necessary.

A healthy diet, however, is basic in treatment of fatty liver. Diet and exercise program may reduce the amount of accumulated fat in the liver. The most effective diet is rich in fiber and low in calories and saturated fat, with total fat accounting for no more than 30 percent of total calories. Weight reduction, however, should be gradual at one or two pounds a week. And even if you are not overweight, a healthy diet and daily physical activity may reduce liver inflammation, lower elevated levels of liver enzymes and decrease insulin resistance.

For diabetics, strict blood sugar control with diet exercise and medications or insulin, may reduce the amount of fat in the liver and prevent further liver damage. Control of elevated cholesterol and triglycerides also with diet, exercise and the use of cholesterol lowering drugs may stabilize or reverse non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Alcoholic drinks and drugs causing liver injuries should be avoided.

Prevention of fatty liver should be one’s goal. Your best defense against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is to maintain a healthy body through a balanced diet, regular exercise and avoidance of excess alcohol.

To find out more about fatty liver, attend the first lay forum of the Philippine Society of Gastroenterology to be held on Mar. 11 at the Megatrade Hall 1, SM Megamall. Experts in the field will discuss other common gastrointestinal and liver diseases such as diarrhea, constipation, obesity and nutrition, colon cancer , and viral hepatitis. There will be different exhibits, free blood testing, and paraphernalia that may help one maintain a healthy lifestyle. Admission is free.

Source: Manila Bulletin

This entry was posted on Friday, July 18th, 2008 at 11:15 pm and is filed under Liver Cancer, Mens health, Womens health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.