Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a very common condition, characterised by the abnormal accumulation of fat in the liver. Unlike alcoholic liver disease, NAFLD is not related to excessive alcohol consumption – it is seen in people who drink little alcohol or no alcohol at all. NAFLD often has no signs or symptoms and usually does not cause problems, but it does increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and type 2 diabetes. For some people, NAFLD leads to a serious condition known as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), liver cirrhosis, or liver failure.
Causes of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
If the liver cannot break down fats properly, fat builds up and leads to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It is not clear exactly what causes NAFLD, but it is linked to many conditions, such as:
- obesity and being overweight
- type 2 diabetes (but not type 1 diabetes)
- hypertension (high blood pressure)
- hyperlipidaemia (high blood triglycerides and high blood cholesterol)
- too little protein in the diet
- rapid weight loss after gastric bypass weight loss surgery, which may cause a sudden increase in fatty acids in the bloodstream
- being aged over 50 and being male
- a family history of NAFLD
- medications such as methotrexate for treating arthritis, tamoxifen for treating breast cancer and diltiazem for treating high blood pressure
- liver diseases such as hepatitis
- intravenous tube feeding
Obesity and NAFLD
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is most often associated with obesity and weight gain. The majority of people who have NAFLD are overweight or obese. Fatty liver disease occurs in up to 80 percent of obese adults in the UK, according to Patient UK. However, the relationship between weight gain and a fatty liver is unclear. Some people who are slightly overweight have NAFLD, while others who are morbidly obese do not have a fatty liver.
It is thought as many as 20 percent of UK adults have non-alcoholic liver disease or NASH, states the British Liver Trust. This may have something to do with the obesity epidemic. Around one in five people in England are clinically obese. As the number of people defined as obese increases, so does the number of cases of NAFLD.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease often has no symptoms, although possible signs include pain or swelling in the upper right side of the abdomen, fatigue, constipation and weight loss. Seek medical advice if you are worried. NAFLD is typically treated by addressing the factors which caused it, such as losing weight through a healthy diet and exercise, managing diabetes, lowering cholesterol and changing medications.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Sources:
British Liver Trust. "Causes of Fatty Liver" (Accessed 16th March 2011).
Drugs.com. "Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease" (Accessed 16th March 2011).
Mayo Clinic. "Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease" (Accessed 16th March 2011).
Patient UK. "Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease" (Accessed 16th March 2011).
Sharon Kirby - Sharon is a freelance health writer and contributes to various print and online publications. Writing credits include Nursing Times, Good ...
