Your genetics play a crucial role in the onset of fatty liver. Apart from genetics, overall risks increase due to lifestyle factors like being overweight, intake of unhealthy diet, and lack of physical activities. Individuals with a family history of fatty liver may need to maintain a healthy lifestyle and monitor health of their liver on a regular basis. So, is fatty liver hereditary? Its helps to have more insights into this.
What is fatty liver?
A fatty liver condition arises due to an imbalance between fat production and breakdown in your liver. There is a link between your lifestyle factors and underlying metabolic conditions.
Excess deposit of fat in your liver results in a fatty liver condition. It is the result of primarily triglycerides and abnormal accumulation of fat within the liver cells. You have the Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (AFLD) and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) – the two types of fatty liver disease.
NAFLD is more common in individuals who consume little to no alcohol. The symptoms of fatty liver condition are often not very palpable. However, the condition can lead to more serious liver problems like scarring (cirrhosis), inflammation, and in some cases even a liver failure.
What causes fatty liver?
Fatty liver disease (Steatotic liver disease) occurs due to excessive buildup of fat in your liver cells. Various factors contribute to its development including high cholesterol, triglycerides, obesity, type 2 diabetes, excessive alcohol consumption, etc. Even certain medications can lead to a fatty liver condition.
- Obesity or excess body weight, particularly around your abdomen that leads to increased fat storage in your liver is one of the primary causes for fatty liver disease
- Type 2 diabetes causes decreased blood sugar regulation resulting in fat deposit in liver
- Insulin resistance - a metabolic dysfunction, could also lead to fat accumulation in your liver
- Elevated cholesterol levels and Triglycerides in blood can lead to fat deposition in your liver
- Excessive alcohol consumption disrupts the liver's normal fat metabolism. This causes fat buildup potentially leading to alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Malnutrition or rapid weight loss – a sudden weight loss or malnutrition can also trigger fatty liver
- Certain medications you take for cancer, heart disease, and mental health conditions can disrupt liver function resulting in fat accumulation
- Hepatitis when combined with other risk factors can even contribute to fatty liver
Is fatty liver hereditary?
Fatty liver disease, specifically Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) called Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), can possibly be a most common and hereditary fatty liver condition. Your genetics can influence your susceptibility developing NAFLD along with other associated lifestyle factors that play a significant role. It includes factors like your diet and exercise.
The risk of fatty liver is high if you have a family history of NAFLD or other genetic liver diseases. Several research studies have identified genes like PNPLA3 and TM6SF2 - specific gene variants particularly to be associated with a higher risk of NAFLD.
Can excess alcohol cause fatty liver?
Consuming excess amount of alcohol can result in fatty liver disease, especially Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (AFLD) – an earliest stage of alcohol-related liver disease. The most significant risk factors for developing AFLD relies on the quantity of alcohol you consume and the duration you take it. However, if you consume excess alcohol and for a prolonged period, it can worsen your liver condition and lead to severe stages of liver ailment. This may include conditions like alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis.
Is fatty liver life threatening?
Yes, fatty liver disease is a medical condition that can prove fatal and life threatening, especially if the condition progresses to severe stages like liver cancer or cirrhosis. Many patients with fatty liver, especially in its early stages, do not encounter any serious problems; however, the condition can lead to severe health complications or irreversible scarring if you ignore them or do not manage them properly.
In its early stages, fatty liver in many cases, which are both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, remain asymptomatic. They do not cause significant problems. However, as it progresses, without intervention, your fatty liver can progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), characterized by scarring (fibrosis) and liver inflammation. NASH can reduce your life expectancy as per few research findings.
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis can further advance to cirrhosis, which is a severe scarring of the liver. This condition can impair liver function even leading to a liver failure. In addition, it can increase the risk of liver cancer becoming a life-threatening event.
Medications for fatty liver
Medications are currently not available to cure fatty liver disease entirely. However, for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), there is one drug by name Rezdiffra (resmetirom). This drug is the first to have the FDA approval for treating fatty liver condition. This drug can treat patients with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis (stages F2 to F3), alongside exercise and diet.
You also have other medications to treat and manage NASH like pioglitazone (PIO) (insulin sensitizer) useful for patients with type 2 diabetes. However, at a global level, physicians do not prescribe these because of potential side effects and limited efficacy for everyone who uses it.
Additional considerations
- Vitamin E is another recommendation. Vitamin E supplements help individuals with cases of NAFLD with liver inflammation, as they provide the required antioxidant to protect your liver.
- Coffee enhances liver health. You need not restrict yourself with one cup of coffee, instead you can even take three cups daily. It offers potential benefits for liver health, particularly for NAFLD.
- You can stay hydrated by drinking sufficient water every day. This helps you flush out toxins from your body and supports liver function.
Treatment for fatty liver
You can manage and help improve your fatty liver condition by following certain lifestyle modifications. This is beneficial for both alcoholic (AFLD) and non-alcoholic (NAFLD). You can focus on weight loss, a balanced diet, and regular physical exercise. In certain cases, few medications might help and addressing any underlying conditions like high cholesterol or diabetes helps.
Liver function tests (LFTs) measure enzymes and proteins in the blood to assess liver health. Normal ranges include ALT: 7–55 U/L, AST: 8–48 U/L, ALP: 45–115 U/L, total bilirubin: 0.1–1.2 mg/dL, albumin: 3.5–5.0 g/dL, and total protein: 6.3–7.9 g/dL. Results outside these ranges may indicate liver damage, infection, or disease.
Aerobic exercise and strength training, you can include as part of your physical activity. This can reduce liver fat and improve overall health. You can manage any underlying health complications that include controlling diabetes, high cholesterol, and sleep disorder/apnea can improve fatty liver. In addition, you can frequent your visits to your doctor, which is essential for monitoring your overall liver health and condition.