What happens when fat accumulates in the liver?

Understanding Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty Liver Disease refers to a condition where there is an accumulation of fat, mostly in the form of Triglyceride, in the liver cells. This means that there is an excessive amount of sugar in the body more than needed, leading to the liver converting it into fat (Lipogenesis).

In a normal person, the sugar level is controlled by insulin, which is produced by the pancreas. When the blood sugar is high, the pancreas secretes more insulin, which acts on the liver, muscles, and fat cells to use sugar.

In conditions of insulin resistance, which may arise from genetic predisposition or imbalanced lifestyle, consuming too much sugar or fat (high carbohydrate and high fat diet) makes various cells unresponsive to insulin. This forces the pancreas to produce more insulin to maintain stable blood sugar levels. With increased insulin resistance, the liver accumulates more and more fat. In this era, no sugar is more dangerous than High Fructose Corn Syrup, which the food and beverage industry uses to flavor its products, being the leading cause of fatty liver disease.

How to Know If You Have Fatty Liver

1. Blood tests to check liver function (Liver Function Test) to see if there are higher than normal inflammation levels. People with fatty liver may also have higher than normal levels of blood sugar and blood fats.
2. An ultrasound scan of the abdomen may show that the liver has increased in size and appears whiter when compared to the kidneys and spleen.
3. Measuring liver fat content through a scan using a device (Dexa Scan Whole Body).
4. Fibroscan, which assesses the elasticity and estimates the amount of fat deposited in the liver tissue to check for damage caused by fat accumulation.

Preventing Fatty Liver Disease

• Lose weight by controlling the quantity and quality of food. Avoid consuming foods high in fat such as milk, butter, ice cream, cake, cheese, coconut milk, seafood, and egg yolks. Since Triglycerides are a key accumulant in the liver, avoid consuming too much starch and sugar as well.
• Increase intake of fresh vegetables, fruits, seeds, and whole grains, such as sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds. Some vegetables can help accelerate the detoxification process of the liver, such as broccoli family vegetables, cabbage, garlic, and onions.
• It is recommended to eat lean meats, such as fish.
• Focus on consuming high nutritional value fats, such as olive oil, avocados, and omega 3 fish oil.
• Exercise regularly.
• Some herbs and supplements can help detoxify the liver, such as Milk Thistle, Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA), N-Acetyl-l-Cysteine (NAC)/ NAC is a precursor to Glutathione, which is a vital antioxidant in the body that helps detoxify the liver. Additionally, Vitamin B and magnesium can help repair and stimulate the healing of damaged liver cells.
• Avoid alcoholic beverages.

Source:

• Royal Life Anti-Aging Center, Bangkok Hospital

• Bangkok Association for the Study of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome (BARSO)

• Bangkok Health Research Center, Bangkok Hospital