Fatty Liver Disease

• Fatty liver disease, also known as hepatic steatosis.

• Fatty Liver Disease is a condition characterized by excessive fat accumulation (more than 8-10% of the liver’s weight) in liver cells.

• It occurs when the liver is unable to metabolize fats efficiently, leading to their buildup.

• Fatty liver disease medically referred to as hepatic steatosis, is a medical condition characterized by the abnormal accumulation of fat within liver cells. This condition can arise from a variety of factors, including excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, elevated cholesterol levels, and the use of certain medications.

• Occasionally there may be tiredness or pain in the upper right side of the abdomen and Complications may include cirrhosis, liver cancer, and esophageal varices.

About Liver

• Liver is a large, reddish-brown organ. The liver plays important role in metabolism, digestion, detoxification, storage and production.

• Liver consists of two main lobes, the right lobe (larger) and the left lobe. They are further divided into smaller lobes called lobules.

• Liver also produces bile, a substance necessary for the digestion and absorption of fats.

• Liver is susceptible to various diseases, including hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, etc.

# Location

• Located on the right side of the abdomen, beneath the diaphragm.

• Positioned just below the right lung and above the stomach.

# Function

• Metabolism

• Detoxification

• Bile production

• Storage and release

• Nutrient processing

• Blood regulation

Fatty Liver Disease is classified into two main types:

1. Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

• NAFLD occurs when excess fat accumulates in the liver without significant alcohol consumption.

• It is commonly associated with obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.

2. Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (AFLD)

• AFLD is caused by excessive alcohol consumption, which affects the liver’s ability to break down fats, leading to fat accumulation.

• The severity of AFLD depends on alcohol intake and can progress through:

  • Simple Alcoholic Fatty Liver – Reversible with alcohol cessation.

  • Alcoholic Hepatitis – Inflammation and liver cell damage due to prolonged alcohol use.

  • Cirrhosis – Irreversible liver scarring, increasing the risk of liver failure and liver cancer.

Causes

Alcohol related cause

1. Heavy Alcohol Consumption: Regularly consuming large amounts of alcohol can lead to fat accumulation in the liver.

2. Increased Fat Synthesis: Alcohol increases the synthesis of fatty acids in the liver while also inhibiting their breakdown, leading to a buildup of fat.

3. Liver Inflammation: Chronic alcohol consumption can cause inflammation and damage to liver cells making it more prone to accumulating fat.

4. Nutritional Deficiencies: Heavy drinking can lead to malnutrition.

Non alcohol related cause

1. Insulin Resistance: Conditions like type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome are associated with insulin resistance leading to increased fat storage in the liver.

2. Obesity: Excess body weight is a major risk factor as it is often linked to insulin resistance which contributes to fat buildup in the liver.

3. Poor diet: High-calorie diets contribute significantly to weight gain and fat buildup.

4. Genetics: A family history of fatty liver disease increases susceptibility.

5. Certain Medications: Some drugs including corticosteroids and medications for cancer can contribute to fat buildup in the liver.

Symptoms of fatty liver disease

Common symptoms of fatty liver disease can include:

• Fatigue

• Abdominal pain

• Weight loss

• Weakness

• Nausea

• Jaundice

• Itchy skin

• Loss of appetite

• Dark urine and pale stool

• Swelling in the leg and feet

Stage of Fatty Liver Disease

The stages of fatty liver disease typically include:

1. Simple fatty liver:

• No significant liver inflammation or damage yet.

• Often no symptoms.

• Liver function tests often appear normal.

2. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis:

• This stage is characterized by inflammation in addition to fat accumulation.

• Symptoms such as Fatigue, nausea, and loss of appetite seen

• It involves liver cell injury and can progress to more serious liver conditions

3. Fibrosis:

• Chronic inflammation leads to scar tissue formation fibrosis.

• Some liver function may be affected, but many individuals may still be asymptomatic.

• Symptoms such as fatigue, abdominal swelling commonly seen

4. Cirrhosis:

• In cirrhosis the liver significant scarring and damage.

• It may cause serious complications including liver failure, portal hypertension, and an increased risk of liver cancer.

• Symptoms include jaundice, severe abdominal swelling, weight loss.

5. Liver cancer:

• In some cases individuals with cirrhosis may develop hepatocellular carcinoma.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of fatty liver disease (FLD) involves various type of test for confirm a series of test which include clinical evaluation, laboratory tests, imaging studies, and sometimes a liver biopsy.

1. Medical history:

• Doctor ask about your alcohol consumptions, weight changes, etc.

2. Physical examination:

• Physical examination may be done for looking sign of liver disease such as liver enlarged, jaundice, swelling in abdomen, swelling in legs.

3. Blood test:

• Blood test help detect liver inflammation and damage.

• Liver function test: this test measure the level of liver enzyme such as

  • Alanine amonitransferase

  • Asparate aminotransferase

  • Alkaline phosphate

  • Gamma gutamly transferase

  • Bilirubin level

• Other test

  • Complete blood count

  • Lipid profile

  • Fasting blood sugar and HbA1C

4. Imagining studies:

• Ultrasound is most common imaging test that used sound waves to visualize the liver. It show fatty deposit in liver.

• CT and MRI test provide detailed liver image.

5. Liver biopsy:

• These test done when diagnosis is unclear or to assess the severity of liver damage. A small piece of liver tissue is remove for examine it for fat inflammation and fibrosis.

Treatment

Treatment of fatty liver disease or hepatic steatosis typically involve lifestyle change and in some case medication.

• Weight loss: weight loss can significant reduce liver fat.

• Adopt a balanced diet rich in fruit, vegetable, whole grain, etc.

• Avoid alcohol consumption to reduce the risk of liver damage or disease.

• Regular exercise is crucial for managing weight and improve liver condition.

Complications

It can lead to several complication especially if untreated. Complication associated with fatty liver disease are.

• Fibrosis and cirrhosis

• Liver failure

• Liver cancer

• Cardiovascular disease

• Metabolic syndrome

• Kidney disease

Question and answer

Question1: What is fatty liver disease?

Answer: Fatty liver disease involves the excessive accumulation of fat in liver cells. It can be classified as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) when it is not caused by alcohol consumption, or alcoholic fatty liver disease when it is due to alcohol intake.

Question2: What are the common causes of fatty liver disease?

Answer: Common causes include obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and triglycerides, hypertension, and poor dietary habits.

Question3: What are the symptoms of fatty liver disease?

Answer:

· Fatigue & weakness.

· Mild pain or discomfort in the upper right abdomen.

· Weight loss.

· Swelling in the legs

· Swelling in abdomen

· Jaundice

Question4: How is fatty liver disease diagnosed?

Answer: Diagnosis typically involves blood tests to check liver enzymes, imaging studies such as ultrasound or MRI, and sometimes a liver biopsy.

Question5: Can Fatty Liver Disease lead to other health problems?

Answer: yes it lead to various complication include

· Liver fibrosis

· Cirrhosis

· Liver failure

· Heart disease

· Type 2 diabetes.

Question8: Is there medication for fatty liver disease?

Answer: Currently, there are no specific medications approved for fatty liver disease. However, managing underlying conditions (like diabetes and high cholesterol) with medications can be beneficial.

Himanshu Paneru’s journey in the world of medical sciences led him to create DOC NOTE MASTER, a platform where education meets expertise. Having earned his Master’s in Medical Microbiology from Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Subharti Medical College, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, he is dedicated to making medical knowledge more accessible through his writing.