Fatty liver is reaching epidemic proportions in western countries. What causes it and what diet and lifestyle measures can be used to manage it?
About 30% of adult Australians are thought to have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease – fatty liver for short – and its prevalence is increasing. In its early stages fatty liver is of minor concern and there are no symptoms. But it can progress to a stage called NASH where liver cells begin to be damaged and this is associated with inflammation. At the next stage the risk of cirrhosis of the liver increases which may lead to liver failure and even cancer of the liver. Together, fatty liver and NASH are now the number one cause of liver disease in Western countries. However, the major cause of death in people with fatty liver is cardiovascular disease.
What causes fatty liver?
Fatty liver develops when the liver’s normal processes of delivery and removal of fats go awry. Although the exact cause is not known several things could be going wrong:
• Perhaps too much fat is being delivered to the liver
• The liver may have a problem ‘burning’ fats for energy
• Fat (triglyceride) production by the liver may be increased
• The movement of triglycerides from the liver into the bloodstream may be impeded.
But what is the underlying cause?