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Fatty Liver Disease

"Fatty Liver Disease" describes a range of conditions caused by an accumulation of fat in the liver. The disease affects about 10% of Australians and is the most common reason for mildly abnormal results on liver function testing. Fatty Liver occurs when fat in the liver cells represents more than 10% of the liver's weight. It does not cause pain, nausea or fatty food intolerance, but does sometimes indicate other health problems.

SOME CONDITIONS are associated with resistance to insulin, a hormone the body produces to maintain normal amounts of sugar in the blood.

Fatty liver is not caused by eating fatty foods.

The most common causes are:

• Obesity (about 20% of people considered obese have fatty liver disease)
• Diabetes mellitus (particularly the type that does not require insulin injections)
• Heavy alcohol use

Less common causes:

• Under active thyroid
• Certain drugs
• High blood cholesterol and triglycerides
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Complications late in pregnancy
• Intestinal bypass surgery for obesity.

Facts About Fatty Liver Disease
First Edition 2005

Contents

• What is fatty liver disease?
• What causes Fatty Liver?
• What is NAFLD (Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease)?
• What is NASH (Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis)?
• How is Fatty Liver diagnosed?
• What should you do if you have NAFLD or NASH?
• In summary

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Facts About Fatty Liver Disease is now available as an A4 size pdf file.
Fatty Liver Disease (Adobe Acrobat PDF 688K)