FATTY liver has become a threatening disease,especially for young and middle-aged office workers. According to a recent survey conducted by Shanghai No.2 Medical University, about 12.9 per cent of office workers suffer from fatty livers.

Medical experts said their irregular and unbalanced diets, obesity and inadequate physical exercise can be blamed for the high incidence of the disease.

What is fatty liver?

Fatty liver is an excessive accumulation of fat inside the cells of the liver. Normally, fat accounts for less than 5 per cent of the liver's weight. Fat accumulation above this level is regarded as a fatty liver.

The condition generally produces no symptoms, but it occasionally causes jaundice, nausea, vomiting, pain and abdominal tenderness.

Although excess fat in the liver is abnormal, it rarely causes damage by itself. However, in some cases, it can be a sign that other more harmful conditions are present.

Fatty liver may be associated with or lead to inflammation of the liver. This can cause scarring and hardening of the liver, which, when it becomes extensive, is called cirrhosis, a very serious condition.

Causes of fatty liver

Although it seems logical that eating fatty foods causes a fatty liver, this is not the case. The liver plays an important role in the metabolism or breakdown of fats. Fatty liver develops when something goes wrong in the process of fat metabolism, but it is still not known what causes fat to build-up in the liver.

Fat accumulates in the liver with a number of conditions and obesity is the most common one.

Fatty liver is also associated with diabetes mellitus, high blood triglycerides and the heavy use of alcohol. It may occur with certain illnesses such as tuberculosis and malnutrition, excess vitamin A in the body or the use of certain drugs such as valproic acid.

Sometimes fatty liver occurs as a complication of pregnancy.

Symptoms and diagnosis

Since there are usually no overt symptoms, the disease is frequently uncovered during a routine physical examination.

There may be a rise in certain liver enzymes found in the blood, and sometimes the liver is slightly enlarged. Fatty liver may also be discovered while the physician is evaluating a patient for other illnesses. For example, an ultrasound exam of the abdomen done for other reasons may show fat in the liver.

To be certain of a diagnosis of fatty liver, the physician may recommend a liver biopsy.

Treatment and prevention

The treatment of fatty liver requires control of the underlying conditions. This may include reduction of high blood triglycerides, control of diabetes, or not drinking alcohol. In some cases, surgical reversal by intestinal bypass for obesity is required.

Since being overweight is by far the most critical factor, weight loss is the key to ridding the liver of fat. This is especially necessary if liver damage is present and early signs of scarring are discovered on liver biopsy.

Currently, studies are underway on certain drugs such as Actigall. The drug appears to reduce liver damage in some cases of fatty liver but it's uncertain how helpful these drugs will be.

Doctors suggest that office workers regularly follow balanced diets and avoid frequent snacks, especially late at night.

Drinkers should reduce the amount of alcohol they consume because alcohol increases the speed at which fat is accumulated in the liver.

Exercise is helpful for both weight control and fatty liver prevention.

About the liver

The liver is the largest organ in the body. It is found high in the right upper abdomen, behind the ribs.

Functions of the liver:

?Storing energy in the form of sugar

?Storing vitamins, iron, and other minerals

?Making proteins, including blood clotting factors, to keep the body healthy and to help it grow

?Processing worn-out red blood cells

?Making bile that is needed for food digestion

?Metabolizing or breaking down medications and alcohol

?Killing germs that enter the body through the intestines