What is a Fatty Liver?
All of our organs contain some level of fat. This is not necessarily a bad thing, because fat cells are used for protection, and they are a great resource for storing extra energy.
After having a meal, the intestines absorbs the fat, and the fat enters the bloodstream, which transfers the fat straight to the liver. Usually, this fat is altered by the metabolic process in the liver, and eventually converted to energy.
If the amount of carried fat exceeding normal bounds, it is stored in the liver and in other various tissues.
The normal liver contains approximately 5% fat. The other 95% of the liver is made up of liver cells named Hepatocytes, which are responsible to do all the work of the liver.
So what is a Fatty Liver?
When the amount of fat is beyond 10%, some healthy liver cells are replaced by the fat cells, which ultimately results a Fatty Liver, or steatosis.
There are two main types of fatty liver:
- Alcoholic fatty liver.
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NALFD).
To fully understand what is a fatty liver and the differences between the two types, read on the causes of fatty liver.
February 17th, 2011 at 12:06 AM
I am a patient of Fatty Liver. I am under medication under Dr.R.P.Roy, MD. gastro, Annandaloke Nursing Home, Siuliguri. Now, I am having vomiting Tendencies. Please advice me for its cure & prevention. I am planning to go Vellor CMC for treatment.
August 16th, 2011 at 10:17 PM
I was having chronic loose motion, body ache and indigestion problem for last 3 years. Recently I am diagnosed with fatty liver disease and high level of serum uric acid (9.8). Please advise me. I am planning to go to south for treatment.
August 18th, 2011 at 4:50 AM
Hello S Dey,
Could you please provide your blood test / ultrasound scan results?
Dr. Mark Bar-Gomel
September 8th, 2011 at 6:38 AM
Hi, I am 42 years and have been a very heavy drinker, smoker and am grossly overwieght.
All through my liver readings are normal ( 2 times a year for the last 4-5years) and my liver has shown a fatty liver.
I got my self a Liver scan done and it shows hepatomegaly. The liver enzyemes are all well with the normal limit.
What does this mean? is it life threatening now? can it be reversed? My father had a succesfull liver transplant last year as he was suffering fro NAFLD cirrhossis.
Is it ok to take a bit of alcohol once in a while? i have accepted the fact that life cant be lived in the same manner as before and have incorporated afew changes to lifestyle.
Thanks and best regards
September 8th, 2011 at 7:46 AM
Hello Vishal,
Hepatomegaly can be caused by many different reasons, not just a fatty liver.
Were you actually diagnosed for having a fatty liver?
You mentioned you blood test results show liver enzymes at their normal levels. Were this was the case all the times or just on your latest blood test?
In you case I would highly recommended to stop alcohol consumption completely, at least for an year or two.
After few years you could possibly drink alcohol from time to time, but again, it all depends on your condition.
Waiting for your reply
Dr. Mark Bar-Gomel
September 10th, 2011 at 1:32 PM
Dear Doctor,
Thank you for your prompt reply and valued advise.
My Blood investigations over the last 3 years have all been normal. I do carry out a thorough blood test every 6-8 months and all have shown normal LFT and CBC and Triglycerides.
My spleen is of normal size.
I went in for a liver Fibro Scan today and the doctor was quite perturbed with the fibrosis in the liver. He mentioned it showed a chronic liver disease. I have no symptoms and am quite active and other than an increase in weight and a dull pain in the middle of my back (sometimes).
He did ask me a couple of times whether I had been advised any AFP test or Biopsy. I told him that I have never been advised and all this investigation I am doing is on my own.
He mentioned that he was quite confused with the high readings in the scan.
May I request what this means? is it cancer? Is it cirrhosis and if so what are the prognosis?
Please advise.
Thanking you in advance. Vishal
September 13th, 2011 at 9:29 AM
Hello Vishal,
In your specific case, I would recommend you considering a liver biopsy.
Please read this article for further details, and make sure to consult with your physician.
Regards,
Dr. Mark Bar-Gomel
September 14th, 2011 at 2:37 AM
Hi Doctor,
My Hepatologist had the same opinion and I have undergone a Liver Biopsy yesterday. I am scared of the results. Incidentally I also did my Alpha Feato Protien test and it is well within the normal range. My PTT is 9.7 and INR values are 0.92.
I am unable to understand what is going on…… I feel fine and active. I work 9-10 hrs a day. I feel hunger. MY Blood tests are normal. The problem was seen in the Elastography…… I read somewhere that in morbidly obese persons it does show wrong results. Is it correct or is it suitable also for obese persons?
I expect the slides to be viewed by my Hepatologist soon and will share my results with you.
I look forward to your valued advise and guidance.
Thanks and warm regards
Vishal
September 15th, 2011 at 12:44 PM
Hi Doctor,
Just got my prelimenary report of the Biopsy….. The score is 0-1. My Hepatologist was very happy with the result and has advised me go go on a strict diet and abstain from Alcohol.
I havent understood what scale of 0-1 means? May i request your advise on the same. She has seen fat deposits but there is no or very little fibrosis.
The result of the Fibro Scan were faulty and she has admitted it.
I look forward to your advise.
Thanking you once again.
Vishal
September 19th, 2011 at 8:31 AM
Hello Vishal,
This is good news.
Your liver biopsy results show you have no chronic disease, and it could be reversed to a healthy status.
What you need is to do a proper diet – meaning, avoid eating fatty/sugar-rich food, exercise, and live a healthy life in general.
Regards,
Dr. Mark Bar-Gomel
September 20th, 2011 at 5:06 AM
Dear Doctor
I have done my LFT and ALT is quite high at 130 U/L and Gamma GT 186 U/L. AST is just out of limit 46 U/L, Bilirubin 8 umol/L. Do you think have a seriuos liver disease.
September 20th, 2011 at 9:53 AM
Sir i’m 18 years old. Now i’ve undergone my service selection board interviews for entry to national defence academy . I chose airforce . After that i under gone my airforce medicals at institute of aerospace medicine bangalore. There they did all the tests on me. I cleared every thing . At last when my ultrasound report came it showed that i have grade 1 fatty liver . So they rejected me from airforce . But they told me that if i report to delhi with in 30 days after curing this disease i’ll get selected. I dont know what to do now. What is this grade 1 fatty liver . How it can be cured immediatly. Plz guide me sir. I’m waiting for your reply.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:29 AM
Hello Sivom,
Your results show a liver issue, but it’s not a fatty liver for sure.
I suggest you doing a liver ultrasound to ensure what disease you’re having.
Best of Luck,
Dr. Mark Bar-Gomel
December 15th, 2011 at 8:20 PM
Hello,
I have had discomfort in my upper right abdomen for months. My doctor thought that it might be gallstones, but whem i had an ultrasound done, my doctor found my organs on my right side to b fine, except that i seem to have a fatty liver. He didn’t seem like he had any suggestions for me with my discomfort, except to say that if it still bothers me for the next few weeks to give him a call. Mind you, when i originally told him about it, he had me come back in 6 weeks. So at this point, it will be over 2 months since I first told him, with still no answer. Do you have any suggestions? Thank you for any input you can provide.
Norma