4 Reasons behind Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

As the name implies Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, NAFLD in short, is a condition of liver that affects people who consume no alcohol or very little alcohol. So the main cause for NAFLD is not alcohol unlike the Fatty Liver that affects the alcoholic. Are there specific reasons attributed to NAFLD occurrence?

The Mystery of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Medical science is yet to solve the puzzle of what precisely causes NAFLD. Medical experts could not pinpoint the accurate reasons behind NAFLD. This is because the reasons that are widely believed to cause NAFLD though present in many, actually does not cause NAFLD in all of them. The research into this is continuing and the researches have not yielded any accurate proof of the causes.

4 General Reasons Attributed to Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease or NAFLD

Being Obese or Overweight

Obesity is the prime reason behind many ailments and medical conditions. NAFLD is one such condition caused by obesity. If fat is accumulated more around the waistline, the chances of NAFLD are higher. In short, people with apple-shaped body are more susceptible to NAFLD.

Insulin Resistance / Type-2 Diabetes

Certain people develop insulin resistance which means insulin will be produced by the body but will not counter the glucose level in the blood. Insulin resistance can manifest as Type-2 diabetes. The sugar so present in the blood are not metabolised and they get converted to fat, only to be stored in the liver beyond the allowed proportion to cause Fatty Liver.

High Blood Pressure

People with high blood pressure are also susceptible to NAFLD.

High Fat or Cholesterol Content in the blood

Incidence of high triglycerides which is also called bad fat or bad cholesterol is said to cause NAFLD.

Other Secondary Reasons that Cause NAFLD

Some researchers have pointed to the fact that there are other secondary reasons that cause NAFLD too. They are

• Disorders in lipid (fat) metabolism
• Hepatitis-C infection
• Starvation
• Certain medications like tamoxifen, corticosteroids, etc.
• Environmental Toxicity which is more prevalent in polluted urban dwellings

Dr Maran on NAFLD

Dr Maran has treated many patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease or NAFLD. He is of the opinion that NAFLD should be treated for its condition immediately else it may lead to liver cirrhosis or other complications that are more challenging to treat. Dr Maran emphasizes that though alcohol is not the cause, the patient with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease should change their lifestyle, and their dietary habits to safeguard their liver health.