Dear Doctors: My father passed away due to unexplained liver problems that we only now know was fatty liver disease. It’s been 20 years and a CT scan shows some fat in my own liver. My liver readings are normal, but I’m the same age my father was when his problems started. Should I be worry?
Dear reader: Fatty liver disease refers to a variety of liver disorders not caused by alcohol use, autoimmune diseases, drug use, or viruses.
It is the most common liver disease in the United States and is estimated to affect up to 30% of the population. Once known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, the condition is now more accurately called metabolism-associated fatty liver disease, or MAFLD.
His father’s health problems arose when this type of fatty liver disease was in the early stages of understanding. Although alcohol-induced liver changes were first described in the 1840s, it was not until the 1980s that a metabolic cause for fatty liver disease began to emerge.
Fatty liver disease is just what it sounds like: an abnormal buildup of fat in the liver. While a healthy liver does contain some fat, when the amount starts to exceed 5% to 10%, it is considered fatty liver disease. This excess fat triggers an inflammatory response that, over time, leads to liver damage.
That means hundreds of liver metabolic functions, including filtering toxins, aiding in digestion, controlling blood sugar, and creating and storing nutrients, are negatively affected. The condition is linked to being overweight or obese, high blood lipid levels, high blood pressure, and prediabetes and diabetes.
There is some evidence of an increased risk of developing MAFLD when the condition runs in families. But lifestyle and environmental factors seem to play a bigger role.
The condition has few symptoms, which makes it difficult to diagnose. Some people describe feeling tired. Some experience discomfort or pain in the upper right part of the abdomen.
Abnormal liver enzyme test results may be an indicator. The same can happen with a stiff or enlarged liver, as well as jaundice.
Imaging tests can assess the amount of fat in the liver. A biopsy may be done to detect abnormal amounts of scar tissue in the liver, known as fibrosis.
Tell your doctor that you have a family history of fatty liver disease.
To lower your risk, stay away from alcohol, maintain a healthy weight, eat a diet rich in fresh, plant-based foods, and exercise regularly.
Dr. Eve Glazier and Dr. Elizabeth Ko are internists at UCLA Health.
Source: chicago.suntimes.com