The liver, your body’s largest internal organ, plays vital roles in digestion, energy storage, and detoxification. Fatty liver disease is a condition characterized by the accumulation of fat within the liver.
This condition can be categorized into two main types:
- Non Alcoholic Liver Disease (NAFLD):
NAFLD is not linked to excessive alcohol consumption. There are two forms within NAFLD:
Simple Fatty Liver: This involves the presence of fat in the liver without significant inflammation or liver cell damage. Typically, this stage doesn’t progress to severe liver damage.
Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH): NASH includes fat accumulation, inflammation, and liver cell damage. Inflammation and damage can lead to liver fibrosis (scarring), potentially resulting in cirrhosis or liver cancer.
- Alcoholic Liver Disease:
This type is directly caused by heavy alcohol consumption. When the liver metabolizes alcohol, harmful substances are generated. These substances can harm liver cells, cause inflammation, and weaken the body’s defense mechanisms. Alcoholic fatty liver disease is the initial phase of alcohol-related liver issues, followed by alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis.
Risk Factors:
NAFLD: While the exact cause is unclear, NAFLD is more prevalent in individuals who:
- Have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes
- Are obese
- Are middle-aged or older (though children can also be affected)
- Belong to Hispanic or non-Hispanic white populations (less common in African Americans)
- Have elevated blood fats (cholesterol, triglycerides)
- Have hypertension
- Take certain medications like corticosteroids or specific cancer drugs
- Experience rapid weight loss
- Have metabolic disorders like metabolic syndrome
- Have undergone significant weight loss
- Have certain infections like hepatitis C
- Have been exposed to toxins
Alcoholic Liver Disease: This occurs in individuals who heavily consume alcohol, especially over extended periods. Risk is higher in women, those with obesity, or specific genetic mutations.
Liver disease prevalence is on the rise worldwide, affecting about 25% of the global population. As rates of conditions like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol increase, so does the incidence of NAFLD. Notably, alcoholic fatty liver disease is exclusive to heavy drinkers and is more pronounced in certain demographics.
