Fatty Liver Disease not Just Found in Alcoholics

weianow | Aug 24, 2010 |

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The normal liver weighs a mere three pounds. Fatty liver is when fat makes up 5-10 percent of the weight of the liver. When individuals are diagnosed with fatty liver disease it can be one of two types: alcoholic fatty liver or non-alcoholic fatty liver.

Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD)

Of the estimated 15 million people in the United States who abuse or overuse alcohol, 90-100 percent will develop fatty liver. Fatty liver can develop even when someone drinks moderately or drinks heavily for a short period of time.

Genetics play a role in the development of ALD. It determines how much alcohol an individual can consume and the likelihood of an individual becoming alcoholic. Other factors that cause the development of ALD include hepatitis C, obesity, diet, and too much iron.

Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

NAFLD is the most common chronic liver disease in the United States. Some people can have excess fat in their liver and it does not cause inflammation or liver damage. Others have liver disease that is similar to ALD; but, they dink little or no alcohol. This is called non-alcoholic steatohepatisis (NASH). NASH can lead to permanent liver damage.

NASH is a leading cause of cirrhosis of the liver. Cirrhosis of the liver happens when pieces of the liver harden and over time, the liver cells are replaced by scar tissue. As many as 20 percent of the adults in the United States have fatty liver or NASH. More than six million children have one of the diseases; and is more prevalent in Asian and Hispanic children.

NAFLD tends to show up more often in middle-aged overweight or obese individuals. These individuals often have high cholesterol or triglycerides; diabetes or pre-diabetes. Potential causes include: medications, viral hepatitis, autoimmune or inherited liver disease, rapid weight loss, malnutrition, and overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine.

Fatty Liver Symptoms

Fatty liver disease is often called the silent disease because many of the symptoms do not appear until the disease is well into advanced stages. The disease also can take years to develop. Some of the symptoms of fatty liver disease are:

Fatigue
Weight loss or loss of appetite
Weakness
Nausea
Confusion, impaired judgment or trouble concentrating
Enlarged liver
Patchy dark skin discoloration usually on the neck or underarm area
Pain in the center or upper part of the abdomen

For ALD, symptoms may worsen after periods of heavy drinking. For NAFLD, the disease can worsen, stop, or even reverse. Signs of cirrhosis of the liver include fluid retention, muscle wasting, internal bleeding, jaundice and liver failure.

Fatty liver disease is diagnosed usually during a routine check-up and blood test. Doctors may require x-rays or in some cases a liver biopsy to determine the damage of the liver. Currently there is no specific treatment for fatty liver disease. Doctors recommend no drinking of alcohol, and losing weight gradually. Losing nine percent of the body weight over a period of a couple of months can reverse NASH. Eating a healthy balanced diet, increasing activity, and avoiding unnecessary medications are also recommended to keep fatty liver disease at bay.

The copyright of the article "Fatty Liver Disease not Just Found in Alcoholics" is owned by Cheryl Weldon. Permission to republish "Fatty Liver Disease not Just Found in Alcoholics" in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.