Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A medical Overview
Overview:
Fatty liver disease, or hepatic steatosis, is a condition where excess fat accumulates in liver cells. It can be categorized into two types, alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease is more common and is closely linked with obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
Pathophysiology:
The core mechanism involves an imbalance between fat uptake/synthesis and fat oxidation/export in the liver. Insulin resistance leads to increased free fatty acid influx into the liver, promoting triglyceride accumulation. Inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction further damage liver cells, potentially progressing to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, or liver cirrhosis.
Signs and Symptoms:
Non Alcoholic Fatty liver is often asymptomatic in its early stages. When symptoms occur they may include,
► Fatigue.
► Mild abdominal discomfort.
► Hepatomegaly etc.
► Advanced disease may present with jaundice, edema, anaemia and signs of liver failure including blood vomiting and Melena due to rupture of esophageal varices.
Diagnostic Approach:
Diagnosis begins with taking proper case history and doing thorough physical examination. In association with this some laboratory investigations should perform to conclude the diagnosis like:
♦ Liver function test (LFT) to know the compromised performance of the diseased liver.
♦ Imaging like ultrasound, CT, or MRI can detect liver fat.
♦ FibroScan is useful for assessing fibrosis.
♦ Liver biopsy remains the gold standard, especially to differentiate simple steatosis from non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
Complications:
If left untreated, fatty liver can progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), liver fibrosis, cirrhosis of liver, and even hepatocellular carcinoma. Additionally, it increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and type 2 diabetes.
When to visit to a Doctor:
If you experience persistent fatigue, upper abdominal discomfort, unexplained weight loss, or abnormal liver function tests, you should consult a doctor as early as possible. Early detection of fatty liver can prevent serious complications like cirrhosis or liver failure.
Recent Research Data:
Recent studies estimate that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease affects about 25–30% of the global population. Emerging evidence suggests that gut microbiota alterations and genetic polymorphisms (like PNPLA3) play an important role in disease progression. Perfectly selected homeopathy drugs targeting rectification of lipid metabolism, inflammation, and fibrosis are extremely effective. Additionally lifestyle modification remains the cornerstone of management.
Conclusion:
Fatty liver disease is a growing public health issue linked to modern lifestyle and metabolic disorders. Early diagnosis and intervention through dietary changes, weight loss, and control of comorbidities are essential to prevent complications and improve long-term outcomes. Ongoing research to explore targeted therapies with augmented homeopathy showing immense effectiveness for better management.
An article by, Team DNC ACADEMY.
Edited by, Dr. Soumallya Chattopadhyay.