Fatty Liver Disease

Need an explanation of fatty liver syndrome that's a little more technical? Okay, here goes. 

One of the functions of the liver is to produce a type of fat known as triglycerides. Triglycerides facilitate the production of important hormones for new cell production. They're also needed to produce estrogen, testosterone, and adrenal hormones. Normally the liver metabolizes fat from the food we eat. Fatty liver syndrome occurs when the liver cells start to accumulate large droplets of fat consisting mainly of triglycerides.

As the liver becomes more fatty, liver enzymes start to increase and the liver can become inflamed. This inflammation can result in scarring and cirrhosis, or hardening of the liver. Liver function can become compromised.

It's estimated that about 10-20 percent of the population of the United States is afflicted with fatty liver syndrome. While fatty liver DOES affect liver function, it's believed that someone who has fatty liver syndrome is not likely to suffer permanent liver damage.

Fatty liver can result from the long term affects of alcohol use.

Fatty Liver Disease Symptoms

A fatty liver symptom isn't typically easy to diagnose, because fatty liver disease usually doesn't present many symptoms in the early stages. As a result, many people with fatty liver don't realize they're developing a liver problem. When a fatty liver symptom does appear, it might be

• Abdominal swelling
• Fever
• Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin
• Overall itchiness
• Right-side abdominal pain
• Small yellow skin nodules

Any of these should be considered a possible fatty liver symptom. If any of these symptoms should appear, the patient is advised to have liver function tests done. If fatty liver is present, the test results will show an enlarged liver or minor elevation of liver enzymes.

Some recent studies have shown that fatty liver is a frequent cause of isolated minor elevation of the liver enzymes found in routine blood screening.

Read more by clinking on fatty liver disease cases increasing. Also see our article on Vitamin E as a fatty liver disease treatment.

 
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