Fatty Liver
Experts warn of fatty liver disease 'epidemic' in young people
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is emerging as an important cause of liver disease in India. Epidemiological studies suggest prevalence of NAFLD in around 9% to 32% of general population in India with higher prevalence in those with overweight or obesity and those with diabetes or prediabetes.
Treatment of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease
Causes of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease
Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) occurs across all age groups and ethnicities and is recognised to occur in 14%–30% of the general population. Primary NAFLD is related to insulin resistance and thus frequently occurs as part of the metabolic changes that accompany obesity, diabetes, and hyperlipidaemia.
| Primary | Obesity, glucose intolerance, hypertriglyceridaemia, low HDL cholesterol, hypertension |
| Nutritional | Protein‐calorie malnutrition, rapid weight loss, gastrointestinal bypass surgery, total parental nutrition |
| Drugs | Glucocorticoids, oestrogens, tamoxifen, amiodarone, methotrexate, diltiazem, zidovudine, valproate, aspirin, tetracycline, cocaine |
| Metabolic | Lipodystrophy, hypopituitarism, dysbetalipoproteinaemia, Weber‐Christian disease |
| Toxins | Amanita phalloides mushroom, phosphorus poisoning, petrochemicals, bacillus cereus toxin |
| Infections | Human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C, small bowel diverticulosis with bacterial overgrowth |
Treatment strategies
Treatment strategies for NAFLD have revolved around (1) identification and treatment of associated metabolic conditions such as diabetes and hyperlipidaemia; (2) improving insulin resistance by weight loss, exercise, or pharmacotherapy; (3) using hepato‐protective agents such as antioxidants to protect the liver from secondary insults