The liver is one of the body’s hardest-working organs, producing proteins, filtering blood, metabolizing nutrients and creating bile for digestion. But it can develop abnormalities that inhibit its function, including fatty liver disease.
You might think of alcohol as a potential cause, but it isn’t the only one. This surprisingly common diagnosis has several culprits, and symptoms can be silent.
What Is Fatty Liver Disease?
Fatty liver is a result of excess fat buildup in the liver. In America, recent research has found that around 40% of Americans have the disease, with the Hispanic population having the highest rate.
“In the early stages, there are no obvious symptoms, no dramatic warning,” says Dr. Susan Kais, a dual board-certified gastroenterologist and hepatologist at UC Health in Cincinnati. “The liver silently becomes overwhelmed while the body carries on.” Some of the first signs could be abnormalities in liver tests.
“Liver injury starts with inflammation, and if left untreated, it can progress to irreversible scarring known as cirrhosis of the liver,” Kais says.
Main Causes of Fatty Liver Disease
While alcohol can be one cause of fatty liver, other conditions can also lead to the diagnosis. Obesity, Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and family history can all be factors in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), the nonalcohol-related condition.
“Insulin resistance and diabetes contribute to fatty liver in individuals who do not drink or who are not overweight,” Kais explains. “An individual can have insulin resistance without being obese, hence increasing the risk and likelihood of fat accumulating in the liver. Diabetes is one of the strongest risk factors for fat accumulating in the liver regardless of body weight.” Research has shown that even a single soda per day — or less — can contribute to MASLD.
What to Do About Fatty Liver
Kais says one of the most important ways to manage the condition is to understand the root cause of the diagnosis. Weight management, watching your diet and limiting alcohol can all play important roles in managing the disease.
“For patients with obesity, focusing on exercise and weight loss can make a meaningful difference,” she says. “If diabetes is a contributing factor, aggressive blood sugar control is essential. And if alcohol is involved, stopping drinking is critical.”
It’s important to remember that a fatty liver diagnosis can have a long-term impact on your health, even if symptoms are minimal.
“Fatty liver disease is often silent, but that does not mean it is harmless,” Kais says. “It can progress to liver scarring, known as cirrhosis, and by the time symptoms appear, significant damage may already be done.”
Alexandra Frost is a USA TODAY reporter.USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.
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