What is Fatty Liver Disease?
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), 6 years of experience
What is the meaning of Fatty Liver Disease?
A buildup of fats in the liver is known as fatty liver disease.
The liver is the largest organ in the body that performs many essential functions. A healthy liver contains only a small amount of fat, but when an excessive amount of fat accumulates, it results in fatty liver disease.
The liver is the most common site for fat accumulation as it plays a role in fat metabolism, that is, the conversion of fats into energy. In most cases, fatty liver disease does not cause any serious problems, nor does it prevent the liver from functioning normally. It is only in a small number of people that this condition progressively worsens over time and can cause scarring of the liver. Fatty liver disease is also referred to as the “silent liver disease” as, in most cases, it does not cause any symptoms and is usually diagnosed during routine blood tests. With timely diagnosis and lifestyle changes, fatty liver disease is totally reversible and preventable.
Let us know in detail about fatty liver disease in today’s article.
- What are the types of Fatty Liver Disease?
- What are the causes of Fatty Liver Disease?
- What are the risk factors of Fatty Liver Disease?
- What are the symptoms of Fatty Liver Disease?
- How to diagnose Fatty Liver Disease?
- What are the treatments for Fatty Liver Disease?
- What are the complications of Fatty Liver Disease?
- How to prevent Fatty Liver Disease?
What are the types of Fatty Liver Disease?
The two main types of fatty liver disease include:
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD):This condition is related to increased buildup of fat in the liver that is not related to excessive consumption of alcohol. This condition affects about 9%-32% of the Indian population and is most commonly seen in diabetic, obese, and older people. NAFLD is of two types:
- Simple fatty liver: In this condition, there is an excessive accumulation of fat in the liver without any inflammation and damage to the liver cells. Simple fatty liver does not usually affect liver functions and is the most common type of fatty liver disease. ( Know more about- What is Liver Diseases? )
- Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH): It is a type of fatty liver disease associated with inflammation and liver cell damage along with an excessive buildup of fat. NASH is a relatively severe condition and can cause complications, such as liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, which are types of liver scarring and can even cause liver cancer.
- Alcoholic fatty liver: As the name suggests, this type of fatty liver disease is caused due to excessive intake of alcohol. This condition is preventable and usually gets better after the reduction of alcohol intake. However, if alcohol consumption is not reduced it could cause complications, such as:
- Enlarged liver
- Alcoholic hepatitis (swelling in the liver)
- Alcoholic cirrhosis (the buildup of scar tissue in the liver)
What are the causes of Fatty Liver Disease?
Fatty liver can occur due to many causes, such as:
- Alcohol consumption
- Obesity
- Insulin resistance, in which cells do not take up glucose in response to the hormone insulin
- Diabetes ( Know more about- What is Diabetes? )
- Increased levels of triglycerides (LDH) and cholesterol in the body
- Starvation
- Protein calorie malnutrition
- Chronic (long-term) illnesses, such as tuberculosis ( Know more about- What is Tuberculosis? )
- Hypoxia, is a condition in which there is decreased oxygen-carrying capacity, for example, anemia (lack of red blood cells in the body) and cardiac failure (failure of the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body)
- Exposure to toxins, such as carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, ether, and other poisons
- Drug-induced liver cell injury, such as administration of steroids, tetracycline, halothane anesthetic, etc.
- Metabolic syndrome, includes insulin resistance, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, and high blood sugar.
- Underactive thyroid and pituitary gland ( Know more about- What are Thyroid Disorders? )
What are the risk factors for Fatty Liver Disease?
Certain factors increase the risk of developing fatty liver disease and may include:
- Obesity ( Know more about- What is Obesity ? )
- Old age
- Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes
- High levels of fat, such as triglycerides and cholesterol, in the blood
- High blood pressure
- Infections, such as hepatitis C
- Certain cancer drugs
- Exposure to toxins
- Post-menopausal women
What are the symptoms of Fatty Liver Disease?
Non-alcoholic fatty liver is a silent liver disease and usually does not show any symptoms. However, some individuals may show the following symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal swelling
- Discomfort in the upper right abdomen (stomach)
When fatty liver is associated with liver cell damage and inflammation such as in NASH, the conditions present with the following symptoms:
- Ascites (abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen)
- Edema (swelling)
- Jaundice (yellowish discoloration of the outer layer of the eyeball and skin due to the pigment bilirubin)
- Enlargement of the blood vessels beneath the surface of the skin
- Mental confusion
- Increased bruising
How to diagnose Fatty Liver Disease?
Fatty liver disease usually does not produce any signs and symptoms and is therefore difficult to diagnose. The following diagnostic tests may help in detecting a fatty liver disease:
- Physical examination: Diagnosis of fatty liver disease usually occurs when the doctor palpates your liver during a routine physical examination and notices that it is enlarged Your doctor will also take a detailed history of your medications, diet, alcohol consumption and ask about other health conditions that you might have.
- Blood tests: Blood tests like complete blood count (CBC) help in diagnosing fatty liver disease. Liver function tests help to check for elevated liver enzymes. Other blood tests that may be performed include tests for viral hepatitis, fasting blood glucose and HbA1C to check blood glucose levels, and lipid profile tests to check triglycerides and cholesterol levels.
- Imaging tests: Imaging tests such as ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRI scans of the liver can show a detailed picture of the liver to determine the excessive accumulation of fat in it.
- Liver biopsy: In this test, a doctor removes a sample of tissue from the liver and sends it to a laboratory to see if you have liver inflammation or damage. Your doctor may recommend a liver biopsy only if they suspect that you are at risk of NASH or liver damage, such as liver cirrhosis.
What are the treatments for Fatty Liver Disease?
Fatty liver has no specific medications for its treatment, and hence lifestyle management is the most important for reversing fatty liver:
- Weight loss can help reduce fat, inflammation, and scarring in the liver.
- Regular exercise for about 30 minutes every day can help reduce overall body fat, including fat accumulated in the liver.
- Reduction in alcohol consumption will prevent liver damage from getting worse and can even undo some of the liver damage that has already taken place. Joining rehabilitation centers or support groups can help in dealing with alcoholism and withdrawal symptoms.
- Taking medications for diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other conditions can help treat fatty liver.
There are many renowned hospitals and doctors in India where Liver Transplant Surgery is done with great expertise.
What are the complications of Fatty Liver Disease?
The complications of fatty liver disease include:
- Liver cirrhosis (scarring and hardening of the liver that occurs in response to liver injury, such as the inflammation in NASH, and as the liver tries to reduce inflammation)
- Liver failure
- Ascites (fluid buildup in the abdomen)
- Esophageal varices (swollen veins in the esophagus or food pipe that can burst and bleed)
- Confusion and drowsiness (hepatic encephalopathy)
- Liver cancer
How to prevent Fatty Liver Disease?
Fatty liver can easily be prevented if you do the following:
- Drink alcohol in moderation
- Exercise regularly to lose weight.
- Follow a healthy diet including plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats and cut down on saturated and trans fats
- Taking supplements, such as omega-3 fatty acids, to reduce the risk of heart diseases associated with NAFLD
- Take all medications for your chronic conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, etc.
- People with liver damage are more prone to infections, and hence it is important to get vaccinated against hepatitis A and C, flu, and pneumococcal diseases.
We hope that we could answer all your questions regarding fatty liver disease through this article.
If you want more information about fatty liver disease and its treatment, you can contact a Liver and Hepatobiliary Surgeon.
We only aim to provide you with information through this article. We do not recommend any medicine or treatment to anyone. Only a doctor can give you the best advice and correct treatment plan.
