We all have our story. You might not even realise you have fatty liver and you are probably feeling totally fine, going about your daily business – unaware of it gradually forming in your liver- until you have a routine blood test or scan that lets you know what’s been going on behind the scenes.
What Is Fatty Liver?
Fatty liver is simply the term for excess storage of fat within your liver. That some of this normal fat is stored is to be expected, but when it exceeds a few percent of your total liver weight, it is something to be concerned about. Typically, if the fatty liver has increased, this comes along with insulin resistance, diabetes, high blood pressure, and uncommon blood and triglycerides – you call this a metabolic syndrome.
However, those with simply fat and no inflammation in fatty liver disease don’t face these issues. There is a third group, a group with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis(MASH) – where the inflammation is damaging the liver cells and potentially the scarring (fibrosis) and ultimately cirrhosis/liver failure.
Alcohol is often blamed for fatty liver but it isn’t. Fatty liver is more likely to be related to your metabolic health or an issue with another medication and in some cases rapid weight loss.
Why Fatty Liver Often Goes Unnoticed
No signs at this early stage of fatty liver. This is one of the reasons why it’s so often hard to diagnose because it’s often a fluke to see elevated liver enzymes on a liver function test (LFT)or fatty liver on an ultrasound scan you’re having for another reason.
Signs of Fatty Liver to Watch For
Some of the milder symptoms of fatty liver are:
Other more severe symptoms of fatty liver are more serious and suggest a more dangerous liver damage that should be treated as soon as possible and these side effects of fatty liver include: Jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes), unexplainable itching, swollen abdomen or legs, easily bleeding or bruising, confusion, and black stools or vomiting blood.
So just because your liver blood tests are normal doesn’t mean you don’t have fatty liver and of course we would not encourage you to self diagnose just based on fatigue or other fatty liver symptoms! The only way to find out if you have fatty liver is testing, such as a Liver Function Test (LFT)!
Causes of Fatty Liver
The following are the causes of fatty liver:
Any history of fatty liver or metabolic disease in you or your family.
Fatty liver can also occur in people who are not overweight. Studies have also shown that fat deposits due to being overweight occur in South Asian groups: irony, the effects of overweighting in the form of a fatty liver at a lower BMI than most other groups – there is ‘no safe’ weight when it comes to developing fatty liver.
Myth: Fatty liver can’t make the liver fail, so it’s not an issue. The fatigue or pain that can occur with fatty liver is rather mild or nonexistent, but that’s a distraction: fibrosis may still be present. Supplements and “detox” drinks: Some herbal supplements and other remedies may be sold as a way to “clean” your liver, but research has yet to prove it.
Fatty Liver Treatment and Prevention
The primary treatment for fatty liver is losing weight, which should be done under the care of your doctor, registered dietitian, or other registered healthcare professional by doing the following:
Healthy weight – if you are over the healthy weight for you can: Live well
If you have fatty liver disease, it’s not a one size fits all situation and fatty liver treatments are tailored to the individual based on risk factors and some patients with advanced fibrosis can receive a specific medical therapy.
When to See a Doctor
Seek medical help if you are: Diabetic, over weight, hypertensive and cholesterol, your bile results are abnormal, having or had abnormal liver enzymes in an ALT SGPT Blood Test , no symptoms. Write down what foods, drinks, medicines and vitamins you took, what was the recent weight increase or weight decrease, and family history of liver diseases before going to the doctor.
Get medical care right away for Jaundice or Sudden abdominal pain and swelling, Blood in vomit, Black Tarry Stool or Change in mental state (Confusion) due to Cirrhosis or any other emergency.
How It’s Diagnosed
How is fatty liver disease diagnosed? Initially you may not have any symptoms, but your doctor may be able to diagnose it through a: medical history, physical examination, blood tests and imaging.
Blood tests: Liver function test (LFT) for liver function (ALT SPGT Blood Test, AST), blood count, HbA1c, blood sugar and lipids, as well as excluding other causes of liver diseases are considered. Abdominal ultrasound is used for the first screening test. FIB-4 score, Fibro Scan, MRI or biopsy are used for further investigations if necessary to assess the risk of fibrotic transformation.
The Takeaway
Pave the way to fatty liver treatment..(at an early stage where we have little to no fibrosis). Fatty Liver can be treated (and in some cases reversed) at an early stage early when we have only mild fatty change. There are various risk factors and early symptoms to watch out for, so know these and see your doctor to start addressing this.
