(Health Korea News / Hwang Seong-gyu) A woman in her 60s who was normally healthy had abnormal findings in a liver function test, so she visited the gastroenterology outpatient department and was diagnosed with fatty liver. The patient complained of injustice, saying, “I don’t even drink alcohol, so I don’t know why my liver has deteriorated.”
Likewise, if you are diagnosed with fatty liver even though you did not suffer from viral hepatitis and did not use herbal medicine or health foods indiscriminately, you may suspect non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Recently, obesity caused by little exercise and overnutrition has become a problem, and the number of patients with fatty liver disease is increasing. Among these, the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is estimated to be 20-30%.
It is true that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease can easily be a problem in obese patients. However, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease can occur even in normal or underweight people due to lack of exercise and muscle loss due to aging. Here, fatty liver accompanying metabolic diseases related to diabetes, high blood pressure, and hyperlipidemia is diagnosed as metabolic fatty liver.
To diagnose non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a history of drinking must first be ruled out. Hepatitis marker testing is essential to rule out viral hepatitis. Patients should be questioned to determine whether they have used drugs, herbal medicine, or health foods indiscriminately, and if liver function fluctuations are severe, they should also be checked for other metabolic liver diseases such as autoimmune hepatitis or Wilson’s disease.
Abdominal ultrasound is the most basic imaging test for patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It not only helps differentiate other diseases, but also helps determine the degree of fibrosis. A liver biopsy can be performed to confirm the diagnosis, but since it is an invasive test, it is mainly performed when it is difficult to rule out other liver diseases.
In the past, there were times when patients were reassured as if fatty liver was not a problem. However, fatty liver can progress to cirrhosis, and the risk of developing liver cancer increases. In particular, hepatocellular carcinoma can occur even in the absence of liver cirrhosis, seriously threatening the health of patients with fatty liver disease.
Exercise and diet are important for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Among them, maintaining an appropriate weight is essential. Even if you lose weight, you need to increase your muscles through strength training, so you should combine strength training with aerobic exercise. It is recommended that you exercise at least twice a week at 50-70% of your maximum heart rate for 30-60 minutes. If you continue to exercise like this, your insulin resistance will improve and fatty liver disease will improve even if you do not lose weight.
Rather than rapid weight loss, gradual weight loss of less than 0.5-1 kg per week is needed. Even if you reduce the amount of food you eat, you must consume the appropriate amount of protein your body needs each day. It is important to note that if you reduce your protein intake, you may lose muscle as well as fat. At this time, it is advisable to consume protein-rich foods every day rather than powdered proteins.
If you actively manage non-alcoholic fatty liver disease through regular exercise, a balanced diet, and regular health checkups, you can prevent complications and maintain a healthy life. Accurate diagnosis and management by a healthy liver and gastroenterologist is best. (Written by Seong-gyu Hwang, Department of Gastroenterology, Seonam Hospital, Seoul (Gastroenterology Specialist))
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Source: www.hkn24.com
