Fatty Liver - What is it?

By Richard Rafoth MD

The liver plays a key role in our metabolism, breaking down nutrients from food into the substances the body can use for energy, storage, or building cells. In addition, the liver detoxifies drugs, produces bile to aid in digestion, stores essential vitamins and minerals, and helps regulate blood sugar levels. The liver is essential for maintaining overall health and well-being.

 

A normal, healthy liver typically contains a small amount of fat, but when more than five percent of the liver cells are filled with fat, you have a fatty liver. And in a few, this fat can lead to inflammation and scarring.

 

This e-book discusses the spectrum of fatty liver diseases, diagnostic tests to determine the stage the disease, and your options to treat it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Richard Rafoth
• Release date: Mar 1, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224205981

Book preview

Introduction

Dr Rafoth is a retired gastroenterologist (liver and digestive disease specialist).

Dr. Rafoth’s interest in nutrition dates back to the 1980s when he was training for 100 mile endurance bike rides. His research ultimately led to a book on nutrition for bicyclists and a website focused on nutrition for athletic performance. Cycling Performance Tips https://www.cptips.com/

Impressed with the amount of incorrect nutritional information on the internet, he wrote a short e-book focused on the science and basic physiology behind healthy nutrition.  Not Just Another Diet Book!

More information on these two ebooks (and links to associated Facebook pages) can be found at the website  Science. Nutrition. Health. https://sciencenutritionhealth.com/

Following up on reader's questions highlighted how much misinformation on fatty liver disease is being posted online and a decision to write a simple overview for patients to begin their own education on the full spectrum of fatty liver diseases .

Those interested in a more in-depth discussion of the science and physiology behind fatty liver disease (with online references) can find them in  Not Just Another Diet Book!  https://sciencenutritionhealth.com/njandb/

Fatty  Liver Disease

NAFLD, NASH, and MASLD

The liver is a vital organ in the upper abdomen under the right ribs that is responsible for a number of essential functions.  It plays a key role in our metabolism, breaking down nutrients from food into the substances the body can use for energy, storage, or building cells. In addition, the liver detoxifies alcohol and drugs, produces bile to aid in digestion, stores essential vitamins and minerals, and helps regulate blood sugar levels. A normally functioning liver is essential for maintaining overall health and well-being.

A normal, healthy liver typically contains a small amount of fat which does not interfere with normal liver metabolism, but when more than five percent of the liver cells are filled with fat, you have a fatty liver. Using this