Fatty liver may increase the risk of heart disease

Patients suffering from fatty liver disease is prone to an increased risk of heart disease as well as the mortality rates associated with it, a new study has found.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an increasingly common condition in patients with obesity, type 2 diabetes and arterial hypertension -- where high blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated.

The findings showed that NAFLD is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis -- the build-up of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on the artery walls -- which may lead to the advent of cardiovascular disease (CVD) -- heart diseases -- related deaths.

Evidence indicates that the fatty and inflamed liver expresses several pro-inflammatory and procoagulant factors, as well as genes involved in accelerated atherogenesis. This raises the possibility that the link between NAFLD and cardiovascular mortality might not simply be mediated by shared, underlying, common risk factors, but rather that NAFLD independently contributes to increasing this risk.

In patients with metabolic syndrome health problems like diabetes and stroke at risk for heart disease events, NAFLD contributes to early atherosclerosis and its progression, independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors.

This indicates that NAFLD is a precursor of metabolic syndrome. It follows that the diagnosis of fatty liver is extremely important and therefore a thorough cardiovascular and metabolic work-up and strict monitoring of CVD or metabolic complications are needed in the clinical management of NAFLD.

Using the Fatty Liver Index (FLI) a well-validated biomarker, researchers observed that fatty liver is associated with thickness in the major blood vessels in the neck -- a pre-atherosclerotic problem that predicts heart disease events.

Thickness in the blood vessels increases proportionally with FLI, and this association is independent of traditional cardiometabolic risk factors -- like diabetes, heart disease or stroke.

Futher, patients with fatty liver were more likely to develop in the plaques resulting in thickness in the blood vessels over time. Fatty liver disease at baseline predicted the occurrence of carotid plaques independent of age, sex, type 2 diabetes, tobacco use, and other heart disease risk factors. Strict monitoring of cardiovascular disease is recommended when managing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, the researchers suggested.

Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver cases swell in Mumbai and other urban areas

Doctors have found that the incidence of liver failure is on a rise among patients suffering from Fatty Liver Disease (FLD) as opposed to patients with Hepatitis B and C, which is another grave medical concern.

Fatty liver is increasingly becoming the reason behind liver failure disease. This is especially true in urban cities such as Mumbai. Liver is the most important part of the human body which helps with protein production, blood clotting, cholesterol maintaining and other important things. In patients who visit hospitals for evaluation of liver transplant, a large percentage had a fatty liver disease.

It is shocking to note that while many believe that a fatty liver is related to alcohol consumption, 60% of cases are that of non-alcoholics. Further, alcohol has always been considered the root cause of a damaged liver, but even teetotallers who are overweight, with high abdominal obesity or waist circumference have been complaining of liver diseases.

Experts say that the reasons behind non-alcoholic fatty liver can be many. Take for instance obesity, excessive junk food diet, lack of exercise, diabetes and high cholesterol among other lifestyle conditions.

The kind of lifestyle people live these days is increasingly leading to them suffering from fatty liver disease. And this is only going to increase if not controlled.

The health experts have further claimed that the incidence of liver diseases in non-alcoholics can turn into an epidemic in the years to come, if their improper lifestyle is not corrected soon. Further, a rapid increase in the number of liver cancer patients is already being seen in urban cities, mostly due to lifestyle-related problems.

Obesity is more dangerous than alcohol. Globalisation has led to a rise in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). Since obesity and diabetes are correlated with fatty liver, there is an upward trend to the latter. NAFLD is mainly increasing due to wrong dietary habits and high intake of fats, carbohydrates and less consumption of proteins.

One in three Britons may have liver disease caused by over-eating

Most liver transplants in UK are expected to be linked to over-eating by 2020, an expert has said.

Experts warned that the UK faced a “major and growing challenge” as increasing numbers of Britons are diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

A third of Britons are thought to have the condition, according to researchers, which is caused by people eating more than their livers can cope with.

Newcastle University is set to be the centre of a new Europe-wide research programme into liver disease, with Britain among the worst-affected countries.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is one of the major and growing challenges facing the UK.

There has been a shift in the entire population. The truth is that the man in the street is carrying a few more pounds than a decade ago. The rate of liver disease has increased 400% since the 1970s.

It’s predicted that by the end of this decade, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease will be be the most common underlying reason why people are required to have liver transplants, overtaking alcohol.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease covers a wide range of conditions caused by a buildup of fat within the liver cells. It is usually seen in people who are overweight or obese.

Most people with the disease only carry small amounts of fat in their liver, which does not usually cause any symptoms. The early form of the disease is known simply as fatty liver, or steatosis.

According to a study published at the end of last year, 33% of Britons have the condition.

Details of the research programme based at Newcastle University are set to be announced later this month.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease not commonly discussed

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease affects 30 percent of the population in developed countries and is a disease with few symptoms but significant effects on your body.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease has been seen in adults for decades and was first observed in the 1980s in children. Since nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is so common and increases the risk for cardiovascular disease, high triglycerides, high LDL-cholesterol, high blood pressure and fat build up in the liver and around your organs, it is important to minimize its presence.

In the beginning, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is reversible, which is why it is especially important to monitor in children. The disease has been seen in children as young as two, but most commonly, begins in early adolescent boys.

In USA (specifically), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is found in "11.8 percent of Hispanic children, 10.2 percent of Asian children, 8.6 percent of white children and only 1.5 percent of black children," according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Usually, the disease is discovered in a child that is also obese, has insulin resistance or diabetes.

Some possible symptoms are abdominal pain, fatigue, irritability, headaches and difficulty concentrating.

The best way to tackle reversing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in all populations is maintaining a healthy weight and regular exercise. There is also research showing that reducing sugar intake, specifically fructose, can decrease fat in the liver in as little as 10 days in children.

One study was done on 40 children who had their sugary foods replaced with healthy complex carbohydrates while their calorie intake remained the same. There was a 20 percent decrease of fat in the liver in only 10 days by avoiding simple sugars (fructose and sucrose, note sucrose = fructose + glucose).

Common dietary sources high in fructose are fruit, fruit juices and sugary drinks such as fruit punch and soda.

Read your ingredients label and look for the word fructose. In most drinks, you will see high fructose corn syrup. Everyone should avoid fructose added into foods on a regular basis. Added fructose should be strictly avoided in any adult or child with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Though fruit contains fructose do not worry, eat an appropriate amount, such as one small piece or one half cup serving per meal. Fruit offers more than fructose; an abundance of vitamins, minerals and fiber and is not nearly as concentrated as in sugary drinks. Also remember that fructose intake does not cause nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, but avoiding it has a significant role in reversing a fatty liver.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is almost always in those who are overweight and obese, since soda and juice are high-calorie, high-fructose drinks they can easily cause weight gain, so avoiding these is most important.

Think about yourself and those close to you, consider the symptoms and risk factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease because it is very common in our population but not commonly discussed.