Fatty Liver Problem

Fatty liver is the buildup of fats within the cells of the liver to the point that more than 5-10% of the liver is fat. There are 2 types of fatty liver disease: alcoholic liver disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Fatty liver disease can progress to serious complications, such as cirrhosis of the liver.

Fatty liver symptoms: Fatty liver disease usually does not cause any symptoms. Occasionally, people with the condition will complain of feeling tired or generally unwell, but this varies between individuals, and the degree of symptoms does not usually equate to the severity of the disease. Sometimes, a person may feel pain in the upper right abdomen and have weight loss

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Diagnosis of fatty liver disease: Fatty liver disease is often diagnosed by chance, after finding an abnormality on liver function tests, which are often done as part of standard blood tests, or when a person is having an abdominal ultrasound. The changes noticed in liver function tests are often raised concentrations of ALT (alanine aminotransferase) and AST (aspartate aminotransferase). Alternatively, your doctor may detect an enlarged liver while examining your abdomen.

A biopsy of your liver is the only test that can definitively diagnose fatty liver disease, but this is not usually necessary, as other tests such as ultrasound can be sufficiently suggestive to warrant treatment.

Treatment of fatty liver disease

There is no specific treatment for fatty liver disease, but lifestyle changes can significantly improve the condition and perhaps even reverse it in the early stages. These changes include:

• Avoiding alcohol. If you have alcoholic liver disease, then giving up alcohol is the most important thing you can do. Continuing to drink may result in you getting cirrhosis or alcoholic hepatitis. Giving up alcohol is also good for people with NAFLD.
• Losing weight. This is not easy for many people with fatty liver disease, so having a well-designed management plan designed by a doctor or dietitian can be beneficial. Gradual weight loss is the key, as sudden, severe weight loss can actually make the condition worse. Weight loss surgery may be recommended for some people.
• Exercising. Even if this does not directly result in weight loss, it is very worthwhile as exercise has been shown to reduce insulin resistance, a key factor in fatty liver disease. Both aerobic exercise and resistance training, such as low impact weight training, will help.
• Controlling your blood sugar levels.
• Reducing or avoiding soft drinks and juices and processed foods rich in sugar.
• Treating high cholesterol. Your doctor may suggest medicines to lower your cholesterol levels, in addition to dietary and lifestyle changes.
• Avoiding medicines that may affect your liver, such as some steroids. Do not take medicines that have not been prescribed by your doctor.
• Quit smoking. You will also be advised to quit smoking, to reduce your risk of heart disease.

There are a number of medicines that have been suggested for the treatment of fatty liver disease, although research into these is continuing. These are sometimes prescribed by doctors in particular cases.

By focusing on factors associated with fatty liver disease that can be modified, it may be possible to prevent progression of the disease.