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24 years
Fatty liver disease .. what sort of medications I should use ?
Aug 21, 2014

Dr. Rania Mousa General Medicine
A fatty liver is the result of the excess fat in liver cells. Fatty tissue slowly builds up in the liver when a person’s diet exceeds the amount of fat his or her body can handle

However, once there is a buildup of simple fat, the liver becomes vulnerable to further injury, which may result in inflammation and scarring of the liver

>Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a progressive complex of liver disease which starts with fat accumulation in the liver without excessive alcohol consumption.
It is strongly associated with metabolic syndrome (obesity + insulin resistance + dyslipidemia)

>>The most common cause of fatty liver disease is obesity

Besides obesity, CAUSES of fatty liver disease are:
-starvation and protein malnutrition,
-long term use of total parenteral nutrition (a feeding procedure that involves infusing nutrients directly into the blood stream),
-intestinal bypass surgery for obesity,
-rapid weight loss.
-diabetes mellitus,
-hyperlipidemia (elevated lipids in the blood),
-insulin resistance and high blood pressure.
-genetic factors,
-drugs and chemicals such as alcohol, corticosteroids, tetracycline and carbon tetrachloride.

In general, people with fatty liver disease have no symptoms. However, some people report discomfort in the abdomen at the level of the liver, fatigue, a general feeling of being unwell and vague discomfort

Currently, there is no medication proven to effectively treat fatty liver disease

if the main causes are related to obesity, diabetes and dyslipidemia then :

The treatment is based in
> lifestyle modification
> weight loss
> and physical activity in order to reduce the amount of fat in the liver.

Patients who are obese are advised to achieve a gradual and sustained weight loss through proper nutrition and exercise.

The weight loss should be around 5-10% of body weigh to reduce steatosis and above 10% to improve the inflammation in patients with fatty liver .

-Patients with diabetes and high lipids in their blood have to:

- improve their sugar control and lower lipids levels. Usually, a low fat, low calorie diet is recommended along with insulin or medications to lower blood sugar in people with diabetes.

-Some studies have shown beneficial effects of coffee.
>The caffeine intake loweres the incidence of abnormal liver enzymes. It is also associated with liver protection. There is an inverse association between coffee consumption and the disease

-Other studies suggested the use of Vit E it may improve the steatosis and reduce the inflammation

>who are not overweight and not diabetic, a low fat diet is often recommended. It is also recommended that people avoid drinking alcohol since it can cause and contribute to fatty liver disease. Patients with fatty liver disease should see their doctors on a regular basis.

The following are some suggestions for preventing fatty liver disease:

>Choose to lead a healthy lifestyle.
>If you are overweight, strive for a gradual and sustained weight loss.
>Eat a well-balanced diet that is low in saturated fats and high in fibre.
>Minimize sugar consumption, reduce the intake of fried food
>Introduce exercise into your routine, at least four times a week. You can enjoy walking, swimming, gardening, stretching.
>Avoid alcohol.

Remember a healthy lifestyle leads to healthy life ,all toxins if it is from food or drugs or any thing consumed are thrown in liver when liver is overloaded fats accumulate .
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