fatty liver disease (non-alcoholic) is one of the most frequent causes of liver disease in the US and further effects approximately a quarter of adults.
This is defined as excess fat accumulating in the liver which normally occurs in patients with a high cholesterol, high triglyceride levels and/or high blood pressure.
but how can it damage the liver?
in some people, the fat resides on the liver but may not trigger any reaction or any further liver damage. But in some cases it may trigger chronic liver inflammation. This condition is called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
weight loss in itself helps reduce impacts caused by this condition. In a recent study, 261 patients were tested for reductions in the activity level caused by NASH and 47% had complete reductions in the NASH activity and concluded with the majority of patients having an improvement in histological features of NASH when complying with a weight loss regime.
But overall, non alcoholic liver disease is becoming more prevalent in the general population with an increase in fatty foods being consumed. By promoting diets that emphasise vegetable consumption such as that of the Mediterranean diet, NASH will become less and less prominent.
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