How to reverse fatty liver disease

Fatty liver disease can be asymptomatic for many people, which means you may not be aware of having the condition at all. If left untreated it can lead to liver damage. The good news, however, is that fatty liver disease is a reversible condition if you commit to making healthy lifestyle changes.

Dr Michael Mendall is one of our leading gastroenterologists and here he explains the possible symptoms of fatty liver disease and what lifestyle changes you can make exactly in order to heal from the condition.

What are the symptoms of fatty liver disease?

Fatty liver disease often does not produce symptoms but may be associated with a dull discomfort in the right upper quadrant beneath the ribs. If the fatty liver disease is advanced there may be symptoms of liver failure, which include fatigue and confusion.
 

Is fatty liver disease reversible?

Fatty liver disease is almost totally reversible by losing weight and reducing carbohydrate intake unless there are advanced stages of liver damage.
 

Can fatty liver disease increase the risk of severe COVID-19?

People with fatty liver disease all generally have an increased risk of developing severe COVID disease but are not at an increased risk of catching it in the first place. Hence they are more likely to be hospitalised if they catch it.
 

How is fatty liver disease treated?

Fatty liver disease is mainly treated by weight loss. Other treatments such as vitamin E or Pioglitazone reduce the severity of the liver changes but do not reduce the increased risk of death associated with it. Other treatments such as set statins recused the risk of complications associated with fatty liver disease and hence overall mortality.

Treatment which is mainly by lifestyle changes (weight loss and reducing the amount of sugar in the diet) is still going ahead during the pandemic. Patients with more severe liver disease need screening for liver cancer and management of the complications of severe liver disease which are all still going ahead.



Do not hesitate to book an appointment with Dr Mendall via his Top Doctor’s profile here.