Nutritionist tells about silent liver disease
What disease harms the liver (Illustrative photo: freepik.com)
The human liver is a unique organ capable of regeneration and recovery. It performs hundreds of functions, including fighting infections and diseases, removing toxins from the body, controlling cholesterol levels, aiding blood clotting, and producing bile - a fluid that breaks down fats.
What is liver steatosis?
Liver steatosis, or metabolically associated liver disease (MAFLD), is becoming increasingly common among young people. This silent disease, in which the liver gradually accumulates fat deposits, often goes unnoticed due to a lack of pain symptoms. However, it can be suspected from ultrasound results showing diffuse changes in the liver.
Main symptoms and risks
Steatosis does not cause pain, as the liver has no nerve endings, but it often manifests as increased fatigue and reduced productivity. Traditionally, the condition was diagnosed in people aged 40-60, but today one in five young people born in the 1990s is affected. Even more concerning is that one in forty cases is diagnosed at advanced stages of fibrosis, where liver cells are replaced by connective tissue.
Risk factors and consequences
The main causes of steatosis development are linked to an unhealthy diet, especially excessive consumption of fats and sweets, as well as alcohol intake, including low-alcohol beverages. As a result, liver disease mortality has increased by 400% over the past 50 years. Nearly 70% of patients are hospitalized with complications at late stages, and unfortunately, one in six does not survive hospitalization.
If left untreated, steatosis can progress to cirrhosis, liver failure, and even liver cancer. Those particularly vulnerable to fibrosis include individuals with a high body mass index (BMI) in adolescence and women going through menopause.
Prevention and treatment
A healthy diet is one of the key methods to prevent liver fat accumulation. Timely dietary changes can not only help prevent the disease but also significantly improve treatment outcomes for those already diagnosed with steatosis.
Earlier, we reported on 7 foods that harm the liver.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
