Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) | NHS inform Home Illnesses and conditions Symptoms and self-help Tests and treatments Healthy living Care, support and rights Scotlands Service Directory 0 Home Illnesses and conditions Stomach, liver and gastrointestinal tract Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the term for a range of conditions caused by a build-up of fat in the liver. Its usually seen in people who are overweight or obese. A healthy liver should contain little or no fat. Its estimated that up to 1 in every3 people in the UK has early stages of NAFLD where there are small amounts of fat in their liver. Early-stage NAFLD doesnt usually cause any harm, but it can lead to serious liver damage, including cirrhosis , if it gets worse. Having high levels of fat in your liver is also associated with an increased risk of problems such as diabetes , heart attacks and strokes . If detected and managed at an early stage, its possible to stop NAFLD getting worse and reduce the amount of fat in your liver. Stages of NAFLD NAFLD develops in 4main stages. Most people will only everdevelop the first stage, usually without realising it. In small number of cases itcan progress and eventually lead to liver damage if not detected and managed. The main stages of NAFLD are: simple fatty liver (steatosis)  a largely harmless build-up of fat in the liver cells that may only be diagnosed during tests carried out for another reason non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) a more serious form of NAFLD, where the liver has become inflamed; this is estimated to affect up to 5% of the UK population fibrosis  where persistent inflammationcauses scar tissue around the liver and nearbybloodvessels, but the liver is still able to function normally cirrhosis  the most severe stage, occurring afteryears of inflammation, where the liver shrinks and becomes scarred and lumpy; this damage is permanent and canlead toliver failure (where your liver stops working properly) and liver cancer It can take years for fibrosis or cirrhosisto develop. Its important to make lifestyle changes toprevent the disease from getting worse. Am I at risk of NAFLD? Youre at an increased risk of NAFLD if you: are obese or overweight particularly if you have a lot of fat around your waist (an apple-like body shape) have type 2 diabetes have high blood pressure have high cholesterol are over the age of 50 smoke However, NAFLD has been diagnosed in people without any of these risk factors, including young children. Although its very similar to alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) , NAFLD isnt caused by drinking too much alcohol. Symptoms ofNAFLD There arent usually any symptoms of NAFLD in the early stages. You probably wont know you have it unless its diagnosed during tests carried out for another reason. Occasionally, people with NASH or fibrosis (more advanced stages of the disease) may experience: a dull or aching pain in the top right of thetummy (over the lower right side of the ribs) fatigue (extreme tiredness) unexplained weight loss weakness If cirrhosis (the most advanced stage) develops, you can get more severe symptoms such as yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice), itchy skin, and swelling in the legs, ankles, feetor tummy. Read more about the symptoms of cirrhosis . How NAFLD is diagnosed NAFLD is often diagnosed aftera blood test called aliver function test produces an abnormal result and other liver conditions, such as hepatitis, are ruled out. However, blood tests dont always pick up NAFLD. The condition may also be spotted during an ultrasound scan of your tummy. This is a type of scan where sound waves are used to create an image of the inside of your body. If youre diagnosed with NAFLD, further tests may be needed to determine which stage you have. This may involve a special blood test or having another type of ultrasound scan (Fibroscan). Some people may also need a small sample of liver tissue ( biopsy ) taken using a needle to have it analysed in a laboratory. Treatment for NAFLD Most people with NAFLD wont develop any serious problems, but if youre diagnosed with the condition its a good idea to take steps to stop it getting any worse. Theres currently no specific medication for NAFLD, but making healthy lifestyle choices can help and treatment may be recommended for associated conditions (high blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol) or complications. You may be advised to have regular appointments with yourdoctor to check your liver function andlook for signs of any new problems. Healthy diet and lifestyle Adopting a healthy lifestyle is the main way of managing NAFLD.The following can allhelp. Lose weight  you should aim for a BMI of 18.5-24.9. Losing more than 10% of your weight can remove some fat from the liver and improve NASH if you have it. Eat a healthy diet  try to have abalanced diethigh in fruits, vegetables, protein and carbohydrates, but low in fat, sugar and salt. Eating smaller portions of food can help too. Exerciseregularly  aim to do at least 150 minutes ofmoderate-intensity activity, such as walking or cycling, a week. All types of exercise can help improve NAFLD, even if you dont lose weight. Stop smoking  if you smoke, stopping can help reduce your risk of problems such as heart attacks and strokes. NAFLD isnt caused by alcohol, butdrinking may make the condition worse. Its therefore advisable to cut down or stop drinking alcohol. Read some tips on cutting down on alcohol . Medication There isnt currently any medication that can treat NAFLD, butvarious medicines can be useful in managing the problems associated with the condition. For example, your doctor may recommend medication to treat high blood pressure , treat high cholesterol , treat type 2 diabetes and/or treat obesity . Liver transplant If you developsevere cirrhosis and yourliver stops working properly, you may need to be put on the waiting list for a liver transplant. For adults,the average waiting time for a liver transplant is 145 days for transplants from recently deceased donors. Alternatively, it may be possible to have a transplant usinga section of liverremoved from a living donor. Asthe liver can regenerate itself, both the transplanted section and the remaining section of the donors liver are able to regrow to a normal size. Read more about liver transplants . Source: NHS 24 - Opens in new browser window Last updated: 29 May 2023 How can we improve this page? Help us improve NHS inform Thank You Your feedback has been received Dont include personal information e.g. name, location or any personal health conditions. 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