Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
WHY IN NEWS ?
Recent research revealed that Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is intrinsically linked with personality disorders.
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About NAFLD:
- It is the abnormal accumulation of fat in the liver in the absence of secondary causes of fatty liver, such as harmful alcohol use, viral hepatitis.
- Fatty liver occurs when too much fat builds up in liver cells.
- It is a serious health concern as it encompasses a spectrum of liver abnormalities, from a simple non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL, simple fatty liver disease) to more advanced ones like non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis and even liver cancer.
- Steatohepatitis is characterized by inflammation of the liver with concurrent fat accumulation in the liver. Mere deposition of fat in the liver is termed steatosis.
- Cirrhosis is a complication of liver disease that involves loss of liver cells and irreversible scarring of the liver.
- NAFLD acts as an independent predictor of future risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and other metabolic syndromes like hypertension, abdominal obesity, dyslipidaemia, glucose intolerance.
NASH
- NASH is the form of NAFLD in which you have inflammation of the liver and liver damage, in addition to fat in your liver.
- The inflammation and liver damage of NASH can cause fibrosis, or scarring, of the liver.
- NASH may lead to cirrhosis, in which the liver is scarred and permanently damaged. Cirrhosis can lead to liver cancer.
Who is more likely to develop NAFLD?
- NAFLD is more common in people who have certain diseases and conditions, including obesity, and conditions that may be related to obesity, such as type 2 diabetes.
- NAFLD can affect people of any age, including children.
Treatment:
- There’s currently no specific medication for NAFLD.
- Doctors recommend weight loss to treat NAFLD.
- Weight loss can reduce fat, inflammation, and fibrosis in the liver.
- Treatment may also be recommended for associated conditions (high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol) or complications
SOURCE – The Hindu
