What Is Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease?

11,12-EET supplementation could significantly alleviate lipid accumulation by suppressing the expression of lipid metabolism-related genes and proteins. The present study suggests that chronic exposure to MeP and EtP promoted NAFLD via gut microbiota-dependent AA metabolism. These results highlight the alcoholic liver disease need for reducing oral exposure to synthetic preservatives to improve metabolic disturbance under HFD conditions. NAFLD describes a range of conditions caused by a build-up of fat within liver cells. NAFLD occurs in people who do not drink excessive amounts of alcohol, and so alcohol is not the cause.

In some people, the build-up of fat in the liver can lead to serious liver disease. However, all people with NAFLD have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular problems such as heart attacks and stroke. It can be a shock to learn that you have liver disease, especially if you are not a heavy drinker. Keep in mind that even if you have MASLD or MASH, there are ways to manage your condition. It is unclear what causes NASH and cirrhosis to develop in some people with NAFLD.

c. What is the cause of NAFLD/NASH? How do you get it?

A summary of lifestyle recommendations for those living with NAFLD. The liver is a large organ on the right-hand side of the body, located primarily in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen.

• In this condition a lot of fat builds up in the liver cells and causes damage quite quickly.
• The other type, which is more common, doesn’t have a specific cause, but things like obesity and diabetes can increase your risk of getting it.
• People who drink too much alcohol may also have fat in their liver, but that condition is different from fatty liver disease.
• However, also remember that cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of illness and death in people with NAFLD.
• It is also helpful to contact a self-help and/or patient group to look for like-minded people.
• This inflamed fat tissue will release harmful substances into the blood that can then damage the liver.
• Doctors recommend weight loss to treat nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is either nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

NASH (now called MASH) is a dangerously progressive form of NAFLD in which patients have inflammation of the liver and liver damage, in addition to excess fat. NASH is expected to become the leading cause of liver transplantation in the United States between 2020 and 2025. NASH may progress to hepatocellular cancer (HCC) and is also a leading cause of liver transplant. NAFLD has several phases of progression, which include simple steatosis, steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and ultimately could even progress to hepatocellular carcinoma.

How does fat get into the liver?

Sometimes MASLD is detected during an unrelated surgical procedure of the abdomen. Your surgeon may notice that your liver appears enlarged and lighter in color than a typical liver. If discovered during surgery, the texture may also be softer than a typical liver. Genetic variations and environmental factors contribute to the development of this complex disorder. Talking to your doctor about NASH (MASH) is critical, and it’s a conversation that could save your life.

• As a consequence, this inflamed fat tissue will release harmful substances into the blood that can then damage the liver.3,29 Subcutaneous fat is less reactive.
• Therefore, your doctor is likely to stress the importance of reducing any ‚lifestyle‘ risk factors that increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
• Besides imaging, several individual blood parameters are available for basically the same purpose.
• While there’s no medicine yet to reverse steatotic (fatty) liver disease, making changes to what you eat, how much you drink and increasing your activity levels can help.
• You will also have a physical examination and discuss your medical history.
• Fatty liver is often detected incidentally before any symptoms occur.

A liver biopsy can be helpful to diagnose these other liver diseases as well as NAFLD. One of the key mechanisms has to do with the fact that humans evolved over millions of years to live in conditions where there was a lack of food. That is why we are so fond of sugar, and why we have fat tissue to store extra calories. We also need less of it because we are less physically active than our ancestors.

What about drug therapy?

If you already have diabetes, NAFLD increases your chance of developing heart problems. Liver disease can impair your metabolism of food, especially protein and fat. If you have MASLD, you should meet with a dietitian to get advice about managing your diet. Fatty liver is often detected incidentally before any symptoms occur. You may have an abdominal imaging test for another reason, and it can show an enlarged liver. Empower yourself to work with your doctors and medical team to achieve the best health outcomes on your journey with NASH (MASH) by downloading our NASH Patient Bill of Rights.