Assessment and Management of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
- Author:
Desmond Chun Tao Wai
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Obesity;
Fatty Liver, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, cirrhosis
- From:The Singapore Family Physician
2019;45(2):24-26
- CountrySingapore
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the commonest chronic liver disease in the world. Overall improvement in public health, active screening of blood products, and universal vaccination of hepatitis B have led to a drop in incidence of hepatitis B and C worldwide. NAFLD is strongly associated with metabolic syndrome. With the rise in overweight status and obesity worldwide, it is not surprising that NAFLD is on the rise. Diagnosis of NAFLD requires confirmation of fatty infiltration in liver, as well as liver damage such as elevated liver enzymes and presence of fibrosis. Currently, the best treatment for NAFLD is weight loss, and the proven method would be dieting with regular exercises. Vitamin E and pioglitazoles are promising medications for treating NAFLD, but each medication has their shortcomings. Until more studies are conducted, lifestyle modification remains the only reliable way to treat NAFLD. Family physicians ought to look out for cardiovascular diseases, as well as being vigilant in cancer screening, as NAFLD is associated with higher risks of ischemic heart disease and cancer.
