Fatty Liver, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions

Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver disease (NAFLD) is a medical disorder where there are fat deposits inside the liver which may prevent the liver from removing toxins from the blood.
People who drink too much alcohol may also have fat in their liver but that is not the same as fatty liver disease.
Bile from the liver digests the fats in food so that they can be absorbed from the bowel.
5 per cent of the liver is due to fat including phospholipids, triglycerides, fatty acids and cholesterol.
The liver is active in the synthesis of lipids especially triglycerides.
Most fatty acids taken up by the liver and esterified to triglycerides are synthesized by the liver from the acetates.
Fatty acids are converted to triglycerides, esterified with cholesterol, incorporated with phospholipids or oxidized into carbon dioxide or ketones.
Fatty liver (steatosis) involves the accumulation of triglycerides and other lipids in hepatocytes.
1. Simple fatty liver (hepatic steatosis).
Simple fatty liver means that extra fat builds up (accumulates) in liver cells.
In some people it can progress to more severe forms of NAFLD.
2. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
In this condition the excess fat in the liver cells is linked with or may induce inflammation of the liver.
This is much less frequent than simple fatty liver.
3. Fibrosis.
Any form of persistent hepatitis, including steatohepatitis may ultimately cause fibrosis (scar tissue) to form within the liver.
When fibrosis first forms often there are many liver cells that persist to function quite well.
4. Cirrhosis.
This is a serious condition where normal liver tissue is changed to scar tissue.
The structure and function of the liver are badly disrupted.
The diagnosis of NAFLD is normally made on the basis of the abnormal LFTs and ultrasound scan.
Liver biopsy confirm diagnosis.
Treatment is by :
1. Weight reduction
2.Diet control
3.Exercise
4.Drugs like Metformin and Orlistat
Bariatric surgery can bring about histological and biochemical improvements in NASH.

TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis
Chapter 7 Liver Cirrhosis
Chapter 8 Obesity
Epilogue