Fatty liver, also known as hepatic steatosis, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, refers to a range of liver conditions in which too much fat is stored in the liver cells. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a common and treatable condition but it is essential to have proper diagnosis and care. Your GI doctor or hepatologist will be able to advise on your treatment options
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The damage that occurs is similar to that caused by drinking too much alcohol, but fatty liver disease affects people who drink little or no alcohol. At its most severe, the condition can progress to cirrhosis and liver failure. Around 20% of people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease develop cirrhosis. Fatty liver is characterised by liver inflammation, which may result in scarring and irreversible damage. The condition is increasingly common in the Western world and is now the number one form of chronic liver disease in the United States. It mostly affects people in their 40s and 50s who are also at risk of heart disease due to obesity and type 2 diabetes. It is linked to metabolic syndrome, which is a range of abnormalities including increased abdominal fat and poor insulin use.
It is not clear why some people develop accumulations of fat in the liver and others don’t, or why some people with fatty livers go on to develop cirrhosis while others do not. However, there are certain risk factors that increase your likelihood of developing the disease, including:
Fatty liver doesn’t always cause any symptoms however when symptoms are apparent they can include:
If your condition progresses to cirrhosis you might experience:
A number of tests are available to diagnose fatty liver disease and determine its severity.
These include:
The first-line treatment for fatty liver disease is weight loss combined with regular exercise and healthy eating.
In some cases, weight loss surgery may be recommended.
If you have diabetes you need to stay in control of your condition and closely monitor your blood sugar levels. Your doctor will advise you to avoid doing anything to put extra stress on your liver, such as drinking alcohol. You will also need to be careful about taking medication and herbal remedies which can be harmful to the liver. To prevent further liver damage caused by viruses, you may receive vaccinations against hepatitis A and B.
If the condition has progressed to cirrhosis, you may be offered liver transplant surgery, which generally has good outcomes. There are steps you can take to reduce your risk of fatty liver disease, particularly if you are at high risk of the condition. These include:
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