Omega-3 Prevents Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Omega-3 supplements can prevent a number of lifestyle and nutrition-related conditions, from heart disease to ADHD. Current studies reveal that fish oil can also relieve a liver disease that plagues a significant number of the population - non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. As you can guess from its name, this liver disorder is not caused by excess alcohol consumption, although it's not uncommon for alcohol drinkers to experience this disease. Rather, non-fatty liver disease is connected to a high level of triglycerides and low amounts of omega-3 fat in the diet.

A healthy liver should have little or no fat; for most of the population, having just a small amount of fat in the liver is enough to cause health problems. A fatty liver is when your liver has a build-up of triglycerides, the most common type of fat found in the human body and the fat responsible for cell growth and energy. Triglycerides usually come from the diet, but they can also be manufactured and processed by the liver. Before they are released into the bloodstream, the liver combines them with proteins to create lipoproteins. However, this process can get interrupted, causing an increased flow of triglycerides into the liver and a delay in their secretion to the bloodstream. This is what causes the fat build-up in the liver.

STEATOSIS

Not long ago, having a fatty liver was considered to be harmless, and rarely progressed into a serious, life-threatening condition. Today, however, a large number of the population have this disease and experienced complications like hepatitis and fibrosis. In a few cases, these complications have developed into a dangerous condition called cirrhosis.

There is good news for adults at risk for this condition disease. Increasing your consumption of omega-3 fats found in fish, legumes, and fish oil pills plays a role in reducing triglyceride levels and lowering levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory effects, omega-3 can reducing swelling in the liver. Animal studies reveal that diets with higher levels of omega- fat decreases the fat build-up in the liver. Another study on fatty liver patients discovered that omega-3 supplementation can improve the liver's texture among those with steatosis, a simple form of fat build-up. Higher intake of this supplement also reduces the liver's fatty deposit, and improves overall liver function.

While more research needs to be done on this subject, patients who have tried fish oil supplementation have experienced significant improvements. Just make sure that you choose pharmaceutical-grade fish oil instead of cod liver oil, whose vitamin A content can place stress on the liver.

Omega-3 Prevents Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

STEATOSIS