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Fatty Liver Disease
Fatty Liver; Hepatic Steatosis
Fatty liver disease is the abnormal accumulation of fat in liver cells. It can result from heavy alcohol use or other sources of liver injury. In people who don’t drink alcohol, it is called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and is the most common cause of long-term liver disease in the U.S. Learn about the different types of fatty liver disease.
Healthy liver (left) versus alcoholic liver disease (right)
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Fatty Liver
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Your liver is the largest organ inside your body. It helps your body digest food, store energy, and remove poisons. Fatty liver disease is a condition in which fat builds up in your liver. There are two main types:
Source: MedlinePlus
NAFLD liver progression
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NAFLD is a type of fatty liver disease that is not related to heavy alcohol use. There are two kinds:
Source: MedlinePlus
Man with Visible Liver Drinking Alcohol
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Alcoholic fatty liver disease is due to heavy alcohol use. Your liver breaks down most of the alcohol you drink, so it can be removed from your body. But the process of breaking it down can generate harmful substances. These substances can damage liver cells, promote inflammation, and weaken your body's natural defenses. The more alcohol that you drink, the more you damage your liver. Alcoholic fatty liver disease is the earliest stage of alcohol-related liver disease. The next stages are alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis.
Source: MedlinePlus
Obesity is often a precursor to Fatty Liver Disease
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The cause of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is unknown. Researchers do know that it is more common in people who
NAFLD affects about 25% of people in the world. As the rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol are rising in the United States, so is the rate of NAFLD. NAFLD is the most common chronic liver disorder in the United States.
Alcoholic fatty liver disease only happens in people who are heavy drinkers, especially those who have been drinking for a long period of time. The risk is higher for heavy drinkers who are women, have obesity, or have certain genetic mutations.
Source: MedlinePlus
Depiction of a man suffering from fatty liver
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Both NAFLD and alcoholic fatty liver disease are usually silent diseases with few or no symptoms. If you do have symptoms, you may feel tired or have discomfort in the upper right side of your abdomen.
Source: MedlinePlus
Fatty liver
Image by James Heilman, MD
Because there are often no symptoms, it is not easy to find fatty liver disease. Your doctor may suspect that you have it if you get abnormal results on liver tests that you had for other reasons. To make a diagnosis, your doctor will use
As part of the medical history, your doctor will ask about your alcohol use, to find out whether fat in your liver is a sign of alcoholic fatty liver disease or nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD). He or she will also ask which medicines you take, to try to determine whether a medicine is causing your NAFLD.
During the physical exam, your doctor will examine your body and check your weight and height. Your doctor will look for signs of fatty liver disease, such as
You will likely have blood tests, including liver function tests and blood count tests. In some cases you may also have imaging tests, like those that check for fat in the liver and the stiffness of your liver. Liver stiffness can mean fibrosis, which is scarring of the liver. In some cases you may also need a liver biopsy to confirm the diagnosis, and to check how bad the liver damage is.
Source: MedlinePlus
Aspartate Aminotransferase Test
Also called: AST, Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase, SGOT
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is an enzyme that can be found throughout the body, especially in the liver. When your liver is damaged, this enzyme gets released; therefore, an AST test can be used to help diagnose liver disorders.
Alanine Transaminase Test
Also called: ALT, Alanine Aminotransferase, ALT Blood Test, Serum Glutamic-Pyruvic Transaminase, SGPT
Alanine transaminase (ALT) is an enzyme that can be found throughout the body, especially in the liver. When your liver is damaged, this enzyme gets released; therefore, an ALT test can be used to help diagnose liver disorders.
Elastography
Also called: Liver Elastography, Transient Elastography, Fibroscan, MR Elastography, Fibrosis Score
An elastography is an imaging test that checks for fibrosis, a condition that causes scarring in the liver. Left untreated, fibrosis can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure. But early diagnosis and treatment can reduce or even reverse the effects of the condition.
Liver Biopsy
Also called: Biopsy of the Liver
A liver biopsy is a procedure that removes a small sample of liver tissue for testing. The tissue is looked at under a microscope to check for signs of damage or disease.
Healthy Liver / Fatty Liver
Liver damage
Image by NIDDK Image Library
Doctors recommend weight loss for nonalcoholic fatty liver. Weight loss can reduce fat in the liver, inflammation, and fibrosis. If your doctor thinks that a certain medicine is the cause of your NAFLD, you should stop taking that medicine. But check with your doctor before stopping the medicine. You may need to get off the medicine gradually, and you might need to switch to another medicine instead.
There are no medicines that have been approved to treat NAFLD. Studies are investigating whether a certain diabetes medicine or Vitamin E can help, but more studies are needed.
The most important part of treating alcohol-related fatty liver disease is to stop drinking alcohol. If you need help doing that, you may want to see a therapist or participate in an alcohol recovery program. There are also medicines that can help, either by reducing your cravings or making you feel sick if you drink alcohol.
Both alcoholic fatty liver disease and one type of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis) can lead to cirrhosis. Doctors can treat the health problems caused by cirrhosis with medicines, operations, and other medical procedures. If the cirrhosis leads to liver failure, you may need a liver transplant.
Source: MedlinePlus
Before - Obese man lifting weights / After - Man lifting weights after weight loss
Exercise Helps Rebuild the Body
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Before - Obese man lifting weights / After - Man lifting weights after weight loss
If you have any of the types of fatty liver disease, there are some lifestyle changes that can help:
Source: MedlinePlus
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