Cat Fatty Liver Disease - Don't Overlook This Leading Cause of Deadly Feline Hepatic Lipidosis

Feline Hepatic Lipidosis, also known as cat fatty liver, is simply an accumulation of fat in the liver tissue primarily found in older cats. Sounds simple but at best it is problematic and at worst, cat fatty liver can lead to fatal complications. To understand this condition it helps to understand liver function.

Cat livers, like our own, do some critically important jobs for the body. The liver filters blood, prepares toxic waste for elimination by the kidneys and detoxifies drugs, chemicals and other unusable substances. The liver must also manufacture blood proteins and fats and store energy including fat soluble vitamins and iron for future use. And that's not even nearly all; the liver is responsible for over 1000 essential functions which cannot be done anywhere else in the body.

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The most common feature of cats presenting with cat fatty liver is obesity and the most common symptom is loss of appetite. The irony is that this appetite loss is both the cause and the initial symptom. When an obese cat stops eating for whatever reason, could be stress or illness, whatever the reason the cats body must then convert fat to usable energy.

This is a normal function of the liver and normally not a big deal. But when the loss of appetite persists and the liver is forced to perform this function for a period of time, fat builds up in the liver itself and the result is cat fatty liver. A cat suffering from liver disease will be jaundiced and will begin to suffer other organ breakdown if left untreated.

Caught in the early stages there is a 90% chance of full recovery. If allowed to progress the prognosis drops to 10% chance of recovery in the late stages. It is therefore imperative to seek treatment for a cat that is not eating. Initial treatment will involve feeding the cat intravenously to shore up its energy and relieve the liver.

Once the cat is on the mend small amounts of easily digested food can be given by mouth. Every three hours small portions of very liquid natural foods until the cat shows signs of a full recovery. This may take three to six weeks.

Once the cat is on the road to recovery pet parents will want to ensure the pet stays out of the woods (no one who has been through cat fatty liver will want to go through it again). Keeping weight manageable, making sure the cat has plenty of opportunities for exercise and providing a natural homemade healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals will keep the liver strong.

Cat Fatty Liver Disease - Don't Overlook This Leading Cause of Deadly Feline Hepatic Lipidosis

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Liver Disease in Obese Cats (Hepatic Lipidosis)

The argument for a healthy diet for a pet cat is a strong one. Proper diet and regular exercise benefit cats just the same as humans. Overweight cats can become extremely sick. One such disease that seems to affect obese cats is hepatic lipidosis. Hepatic lipidosis is also known as feline fatty liver syndrome. The disease tends to affect females of the species more than males. It also tends to affect obese cats more than cats at a proper healthy weight. Cats are the only animals that develop this disease. If not treated immediately and aggressively, there is a 90 percent fatality rate. No one knows its cause, but obesity is something that can increase the chances of it.

Hepatic lipidosis tends to be triggered after a period of a loss of appetite within a cat. No one really comprehends why there is a loss of appetite in the first place, but this is where the disease first starts. The cat's starving of self forces the body's fat deposits to be run through the liver. The heavy amounts of fat being broken down by the liver essentially overwhelm it. The liver cannot process the fat that is being absorbed for sustenance fast enough. This is why the disease is much more dangerous for obese cats. Some cat owners have reacted to their cast's refusal to eat food with indifference, while others have opted to force feed their pet. Both of the previous options shouldn't be employed. The only real way to stay on top of such a potentially life-threatening disease is to take your pet to the vet at the first signs of anorexia.

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Anorexia is the first stage of hepatic lipidosis, which can be followed by lethargy, vomiting and jaundice which is a yellowing of the gums, skin and inner ear. Extreme cases include drooling, blindness, semi-coma and seizures. All of these symptoms are signs that the cat should be taken to a veterinarian.

A veterinarian will be able to determine hepatic lipidosis with a blood test and an x-ray to determine the state of the liver. Obviously, the most complete way of diagnosing the disease is to determine the fat globules on the liver. This is usually done by an invasive procedure where part of the liver is extracted or a lesser technique where a sample is taken with a needle.

The solution to hepatic lipidosis requires aggressive feeding of the cat. Of course, some (again) resort to force feeding, which isn't the best for the cat and gives the animal stress. Most argue that the best option to pursue during full-blown hepatic lipidosis is tube feeding. Tube feeding does introduce stress as well, with the options being a nose tube, a throat tube or a stomach tube. Even with tube feeding, the percentage of death is only reduced to 30 percent.

An intensive high protein diet for three to six weeks is what comes next. The liver stabilizes and the cat can eventually get back to its normal life. Cats have the ability to regenerate their livers rather quickly. Furthermore, the chances of a cat having this disease twice are rare.

With a potential 10 percent survival rate and a forced corrective diet, hepatic lipidosis is a strong argument against the perpetuation of feline obesity. Proper diet and exercise can be strong deterrents to this potentially fatal disease.

Liver Disease in Obese Cats (Hepatic Lipidosis)

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How to Reverse Fatty Liver Disease

Did you know that one third of all Americans suffer from a little known condition named "steatosis" or fatty liver?

This common disease causes nausea, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, bad breath, rashes, among other small maladies that are so frequent nowadays.

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Because it is far more lucrative to heal liver disease at more advanced stages, the pharmaceutical industry is not very interested in healing this mild condition (step one to cirrhosis and liver cancer and failure).

Fortunately, science is not limited to the pharmaceuticals and a few studies have shed some light on how to reverse fatty live disease.

The first step is exercising more. Exercising puts your liver in "fat burning mode". Because fatty liver consists of accumulated fat on your liver cells, this will reverse the condition.

But alone exercise may not be enough and diet comes as a second important step. Raw vegetables and fruits should be added, meat and milk should be avoided. The reasons for this are many and you can find out more details on a healthy liver diet on the resource below.

Avoiding anything that can cause damage to your liver is also important. Unfortunately, because your liver is the organ responsible for handling toxic waste in your body this means a lot of the things you may be used to, top of which are alcohol, coffee, and tobacco. Both medical drugs and natural remedies have also been linked to sometimes severe liver damage.

Finally, some herbs have been studied for their liver healing effect. Many have been proven to be a scam, but three stand out: milk thistle, turmeric, and ginger. These three combined have reversed even serious cases of liver disease, like cirrhosis and cancer, and they consistently reversed milder cases.

How to Reverse Fatty Liver Disease

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Alcoholic Liver Disease

Alcoholic liver disease occurs due to an acute or chronic inflammation of the liver due to alcohol abuse. This disease usually occurs after a prolonged use of alcohol. In the United States 10% of men and 3% of women suffer from problems related to alcoholic consumption.

The occurrence of the disease depends on the amount of alcohol consumed and the duration it is consumed in. The greater the duration and greater the amount leads to a greater chance for liver disease to occur.

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Other factors include the toxicity of ethanol to the liver, susceptibility to the disease, and genetic factors. Studies have shown that women may be more susceptible than men. The disease starts as inflammation (hepatitis) and progresses to fatty liver and cirrhosis. Alcoholism generally leads to three pathologically different liver diseases. They are the fatty liver ( Steatosis), hepatitis and cirrhosis.

The disease will not show any symptoms until it advances. Complications that arise are alcoholic encephalopathy and portal hypertension.

The symptoms include loss of appetite, nausea, jaundice, abdominal pain, fever, ascites,weight gain, mental confusion, excessive thirst, dry mouth and fatigue.

Other symptoms are vomiting blood, bloody bowel movements, paleness, fainting, lethargic movement, fluctuating mood, impaired judgement and confusion.

Liver function tests and liver biopsy are the common tests done to detect the disease. Treatment includes the discontinuation of alcoholic use, providing high calorie, high carbohydrate diet to break down the protein present in the patient's body. Counseling and rehabilitaion may prove necessary for the patients.

Liver transplants become necessary if the situation advances to cirrhosis. Once the patient becomes medically stable, there is a need to abstain from drinking. Although stopping drinking may result in the reversal of fatty liver and hepatitis, liver cirrhosis may continue, but progressive liver deterioration can be checked.

Alcoholic Liver Disease

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Stage III Liver Disease

The largest organ in your body is your liver. It regulates your ability to metabolize fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. It is also involved in many other different functions throughout your body that will keep you alive. Many contaminants, as well as disease-causing elements will pass through the liver. This is the reason why there are so many different diseases that can affect this organ, and this is the reason why it is very important to keep it healthy.

Factors that can Damage the Liver

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Some form of infection or a cancer will damage the liver, which can have the potential to affect your entire body. Due to the fact that the liver stores blood, and is connected to both the portal vein and the hepatic artery. This extra blood supply increases the chance that a tumor in a different organ that has spread into the blood stream will end up in the liver.

The problem with developing cancer in this organ is due to the fact that it is very difficult to detect the cancer in the liver at an early stage. This is because the liver's ability to function normally for a prolonged period of time, even if it is damaged or infected. Therefore, the earliest time to detect liver cancer is when it is already well established in the organ.

Cancer Stages

There are four stages of liver cancer a person can potentially go through. During the first two stages, it is very difficult to detect the cancer in the liver. This is unfortunate due to the fact that it is during these two stages when the cancer is easy to cure. The third stage is when it is easier to detect the cancer. However, during this time it is very difficult to cure cancer that has advanced up to this point.

Stage III Liver Disease

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Feline Liver Disease - Things You Need to Know

Feline liver disease usually occurs in cats that refuse to eat for 1 day or more. When a cat refused to eat, the body begins to collect fat or lipid cells in the liver, causing the liver to enlarge. This is why the disease is often referred to as feline fatty liver or the technical name, which is Hepatic Lipidosis (FHL).

In the majority of cats, there is usually some other type of underlying condition that exists. These conditions include diabetes mellitus, pancreatitis, hyperthyroidsim, urinary blockage and inflammatory bowel disease. Other causes of liver problems include neoplasia (abnormal cell growth such as a cancerous tumor) and bacterial infection.

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Another type of liver disease occurs when there is inflammation of the bile ducts. Bile is a substance that is manufactured by the liver and then transported to the gallbladder. If this substance doesn't transport properly, then a type of liver disease called Cholangiohepatitis.

One type of liver disease is triggered by an inherited abnormality where blood bypasses the liver and goes directly into the heart (Portosystemic Shunt). Since the liver cleanses the blood before it goes elsewhere, this problem can lead to ammonia build up and symptoms such as seizures, vomiting, drooling, diarrhea and circling.

Symptoms that often accompany liver problems include drooling, bad mouth odor, vomiting and diarrhea. You may even see signs of mental confusion.

Treatment of Feline Liver Disease

Treatment of a portosystemic shunt is done via surgery. Once the blood flow is directed properly, your cat should fully recover.

If the problem is fatty liver disease or Cholangiohepatitis, then the immediate treatment is to feed your cat via a tube that is inserted directly into the stomach. Your cat needs to be immediately hydrated, electrolyte balance restored so that the body is getting the food that it needs. After several days, 7 - 10, your veterinarian will reintroduce a normal diet that is high in protein. Your veterinarian will also seek to supplement the feeding with certain vitamins such as vitamin K and B.

Homeopathic remedies also have a unique role in restoring and preventing feline liver disease. Milk Thistle in particular has a long history of helping to restore liver health in both humans and cats. Other natural remedies that can be of help include Arctium lappa (Burdock, used as a blood purifier and system cleanser), Greater Celandine (supports liver health), Kalium mriaticum (system cleanser) and Natrium phosphate (benefits the liver and gallbladder).

Feline Liver Disease - Things You Need to Know

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Cats With Liver Disease - The Symptoms and How To Prepare The Best Diet For Them

It is difficult to identify if a cat is suffering from liver disease because the signs and symptoms are difficult to spot. Showing non-specific symptoms, some might show decrease in appetite, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, depression and jaundice. (Jaundice in cats can be seen by the yellow discoloration of the skin at the base of the ear, and the whites of the eyes.

While other cats pass off pasty looking stool and display inappropriate urination and defecation behavior, according to Dr. Richard Pitcairn, author of the "Complete Guide to the Natural Health for Dogs and Cats," Rodale Press. This happen because fatty liver disease causes the liver to be is weighed down by rapid fat accumulation and simply shut down.

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In some cases, Dr. Richard mentions that cat owners who use the free feeding method, and has more than one cat must be more vigilant. As it's more difficult to note if your cat is eating regularly, fatty liver disease can develop rapidly in a cat's body if he stops feeding for a week or two. This would be a serious case and immediate medical care would be needed.

Immediate medication treatment is necessary for the recovery of liver disease. The treatment would depends on the cause and may include antibiotics, coagulation treatment for bleeding disorder, intravenous fluid therapy, appetite stimulants, anti-emetics and diet management.

When preparing a diet plan for a cat with liver disease, note that he would require a high-quality protein diet in moderate amount, with most of the cat's caloric intake coming from non-protein sources. If you are preparing your own food, it is recommended that the diet be based around eggs, cottage cheese, rice and liver. Your cat may also need multivitamin supplement.

Commercial restorative foods for felines suffering from with liver disease include Hill's Feline L/D formula. Royal Canin has several different formulas for hepatic disease, and your veterinarian can help you decide which is best for your cat depending on its current condition. Small, easily digestible and frequent meals are generally recommended. Many experts also recommend organic foods because they are not exposed to chemicals, artificial colors or preservatives.

You might also want to ask your veterinarian if you should add digestive enzymes and S-adenyl-methionine supplement to your cat's diet. Remember that in order to support your cat's liver function; you will have to plan a proper suitable diet that is fresh, organic, with low and quality protein and certainly low fat.

Cats With Liver Disease - The Symptoms and How To Prepare The Best Diet For Them

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One Simple Step to Reverse Fatty Liver Disease

What is fatty liver disease, or steatosis? A mild liver condition where fat accumulates inside liver cells and causes them to malfunction. Over time, steatosis may lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure.

Do you think you may suffer from this condition?

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Fatty liver is very common (up to 30% of all people in the Western world) and it causes very mild symptoms, like nausea, bad breath, rashes, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.

But is there anything you can do to reverse fatty liver disease?

There are actually three very well known herbs that studies have shown cause a consistent reduction and reversion on any liver disease, even cancer!

These three herbs are so effective that some pharmaceuticals already have studies under way to extract the active substances in them in order to produce drugs for liver cancer and cirrhosis. But they haven't yet been able to do so.

Fortunately, these herbs are very accessible and anyone with fatty liver disease can get them and start treating him or herself.

Want to know what these herbs are?

Ginger, milk thistle, and turmeric. Didn't I tell you they were very well known?

There are already combinations of these on the market. They are more convenient than the three herbs separate, but if you take all three herbs there is no gain in effect from taking them as a whole pill or separate.

The studies that have shown the efficacy of these herbs used them as pills (i.e. true supplements). However, I suggest you also include them in your cooking to increase their effect.

One Simple Step to Reverse Fatty Liver Disease

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Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Treatment

Alcoholic fatty liver disease not unlike other forms of fatty liver is reversible. When the cause of fatty liver is alcohol, it is more likely to develop into cirrhosis and cancer, so it is very important to reverse it and prevent it from haunting you again.

Alcohol damages your liver cells by overloading them with work. When that happens fat accumulates inside them because they can't handle taking care of both fat and alcohol (fatty liver, or steatosis stage). As more fat accumulates, less damage the liver can endure and cells start to die and be replaced by fibrotic tissue (cirrhosis stage). Fibrotic tissue does not function and leads to chronic liver failure. Damage to the liver also increases the probability of developing cancer.

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But even when you already have alcoholic fatty liver disease, treatment is possible. The first step is, of course, reducing alcohol intake or, better yet, remove it completely. Alcohol not only damages your liver directly, but it is causes malabsorption of nutrients essential for liver recovery.

The next step is adjusting your diet. Make sure you eat a balanced diet and, if at all possible, become vegetarian. Meat, fish, eggs, and milk put extra load on the liver, which you want to avoid. On the other hand, fruit, vegetables, grains, and beans are rich in nutrients and poor in calories, providing the nutrients necessary for liver regeneration while keeping calories low to signal the liver to burn the fat inside it.

Finally, one last step is taking supplements. A few herbs have been proven to cause liver regeneration and fight liver cancer, and they have healed people with steatosis, cirrhosis and even liver cancer. The most important of these are milk thistle, and artichoke, but the list is very long. You can either try to take one supplement of each or, better yet, use one of the many combinations available.

Alcoholic fatty liver disease treatment is one of the best steps you can take towards health. It is beneficial for everyone who takes, or took, alcohol, because even moderate amount have been shown to cause some degree of liver damage.

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Treatment

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What Causes Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)?

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a range of disease states, from steatosis (fatty liver) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (also called NASH; steatosis with inflammatory changes) followed by progression to fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

The above may mean very little to the average person until you understand what function the liver actually has in your body.

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The liver, believe it or not, is the second largest organ in your body and is located under your rib cage on the right side. The liver takes care of many jobs in your body. Most importantly it processes what we eat and drink into energy and nutrients our body can use. The liver also filters the blood and removes harmful substances from the blood. It breaks down and removes cholesterol and regulates the blood sugar throughout the body.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the build up of fat in liver cells that is not caused by alcohol. It is normal for the liver to contain some fat. However, if more than 5% - 10% percent of the liver's weight is fat, then it is called a fatty liver (steatosis).

NAFLD tends to develop in people who are overweight or obese or have diabetes, high cholesterol or high triglycerides. Rapid weight loss and poor eating habits also may lead to NAFLD. However, some people develop NAFLD even if they do not have any risk factors. NAFLD affects up to 50% of overweight people in the United States alone and the figures are similar in other westernised states.

In a few of the cases, fatty liver does not cause any harm; however, for some, the long-term presence of fat in the liver leads to inflammation. This is characterised by swelling and tenderness (hepatitis).

As is the case for a large number of diseases our diet plays a very important role. That being said you would think that by simply going on a diet and losing some weight would be enough to reverse NAFLD.

Well yes, a specific diet can reverse fatty liver disease, but a random diet plan will more than likely fail because of the following reasons.

1. The primary source of energy in people is Glycogen (which is a form of carbohydrates)

2. Glycogen is stored in the muscles and once they are full, it is stored in the liver. This means that once the liver is full the body recognizes that it is full of carbohydrates.

3. Body fat is burned only when glycogen from the blood, muscles and finally liver is depleted.

In people with fatty liver, the liver holds on to the carbohydrates in it's tissues and thus imitates a situation where the body is full of carbs. In this situation, the body "thinks" that there is no need to reach for the body fat because it has all the carbs it needs. Therefore a fatty liver can actually prevent you from losing weight.

On very rare occasions it can even result in our body decomposing muscle for energy instead of burning fat. This wreaks havoc in the body of a fatty liver sufferer.

What Causes Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)?

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Child and Adolescent Liver Disease: Are We Creating the Next Generation of Transplant Recipients?

Should we be so surprised at the epidemic of childhood and adolescent we are now facing? Were we unable to see that a diet consisting of hydrogenated and processed fats, fried foods and super-starches would not come back to haunt us? With childhood obesity already a pervasive problem we are learning about the related complications and diseases that this extreme condition is exacerbating in our children. At first the weight gain was a disturbing footnote in our modern world. But then we were introduced to childhood diabetes, heart conditions, and sky high cholesterol numbers. While serious in their impacts to a growing bodies health, their occurrence may take a back seat to what could be the greatest problem to encounter the collective declining health of our children. This emerging medical issue is known as Fatty Liver Syndrome.

What is Fatty Liver Syndrome?

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Simply put conditions known as Fatty Liver Syndrome arise when the body's liver starts accumulating fat. According to the Liver Society the statistical population numbers for Fatty Liver Syndrome are 10-20 percent. While the accumulation of fat in the liver is not normal, it in and of itself is not currently known to be harmful or cause permanent damage. One of the livers functions is producing a form of fat known as triglycerides. These are important for new cell production and are necessary to produce hormones such as estrogen, testosterone, and adrenal hormones. In the liver of a patient with Fatty Liver Syndrome, the liver cells accumulate large droplets of fat that consist of mostly triglycerides. In normal liver operation, fat from the diet is metabolized by the liver and other tissues.

If the amount of fat exceeds the body's requirement, large fat accumulations may develop in the liver, which results in an increase in liver enzymes and inflammation. This inflammation can cause scarring and hardening of the liver (cirrhosis) and results in decreased liver function.

The types of Fatty Liver Syndrome

The disease popularly known as Fatty Liver Syndrome includes a range of liver conditions. There are listed here in the order of severity.

Fatty Liver (steatosis).

The most common condition. Fatty Liver Syndrome is the accumulation of fat in the liver cells. This condition typically does not result in damage to the liver and is not associated with other liver abnormalities. The scarring or inflammation of the liver typically is not present. Of the three conditions this one is asymptomatic with most patients unaware of their condition.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

The most common form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Patients who have NASH typically have an inflammation of the liver as a result of its accumulation of fat. At this point the liver may not have scarring present. If left untreated NASH may lead to cirrhosis. According to the Liver Society NASH affects 2 to 5 percent of Americans

Cirrhosis.

Cirrhosis is the result of an inflammation left untreated for years. The danger occurs if it may progresses into cirrhosis of the liver. At this point the liver will more than likely have scar tissue. A liver with Cirrhosis encounters progressive and irreversible liver damage.

What causes it?

As with many liver ailments the most common cause of fatty liver syndrome is alcohol abuse. But this may soon be eclipsed by its non-alcoholic variety, steatohepatitus (NASH) In all varieties of steatohepatitis the condition is brought on or aggravated by malnutrition, obesity, diabetes mellitus, Hepatitis C virus, Wilson's disease, hyperlipidemia or endocrine disorders, and Reye's syndrome in children. There is also a rare, but serious, form of fatty liver that begins late in pregnancy which has the possibility of leading to jaundice and liver failure. In the real of non-dietary causes, Fatty Liver Syndrome may be caused by certain drug overdoses or chemical poisonings. Some of the medications and substances that can cause fatty liver include amiodarone, methotrexate, high doses of vitamin A, tetracycline, cortisone, phosphorus, prednisone and carbon tetrachloride. Carbon tetrachloride is one of the chemicals that can injure the liver in a way that makes the liver cells accumulate fat.

This sounds so familiar, where have I heard this before?

Even for those of you that are hearing about this for the first time the subject of the liver and fat seems oddly familiar. Ever hear of foie gras? That's French right? Yes, Martha it's French all right, French for fatty liver! (For those of you doubters translate the words "fatty liver" via the Google Translate tool into French and see what you get.) Even the beer&BBQ types know that to make foie gras you funnel a large amount of fat down some French goose's throat! The liver grows twice the size of normal and before the goose becomes a patient in the French healthcare system he is boxed up by some French Pate house. For those of you who have connected the dots, we are basically turning ourselves in to human pate. The "fatting up" process is something of our own design and own freewill. We trade cages for lazyboys, and the quacking for the bleeps of video games.

Most people are familiar with cirrhosis of the liver, and typically attribute this disorder to the long term effects of alcohol. The heavy use of alcohol leads to fatty liver and inflammation called alcoholic hepatitis, but known to the majority of the population as cirrhosis of the liver.

Symptoms of NASH or Fatty Liver

Most individuals diagnosed with these conditions previously exhibited little if any symptoms or complaints. Some individuals do experience symptoms and here is a brief list:

Jaundice, right-side abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, and fever overall itchiness, and small yellow skin nodules,

How is it diagnosed?

Fatty Liver Syndrome and NASH are usually detected as the result laboratory tests yielding abnormal data. In a majority of the situations the lab work was being performed for unrelated issues. In other cases the liver is tender upon examination and is found to be enlarged. The typical results from laboratory tests include the elevation of liver enzymes. These enzymes are typical AST and ALT. If you results are severe enough to warrant testing your doctor my recommend an ultrasound. Other imaging methods include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or a computerized tomography (CT) scan. Ultimately it is a physical examination (if needed) that confirms the condition of Fatty Liver Syndrome or NASH. This examination is consists of a microscopic examination of a sample of liver tissue (biopsy).

How is it treated?

As of this moment treatment for fatty liver syndrome consists of eliminating or treating the cause of the condition. It is believed that most cases of fatty liver syndrome are reversible. As with many curable diseases and disorders fatty liver syndrome is reversible if caught early in its development stages. Regardless of the background cause it should be the goal of the patient to develop a healthy diet. Since there are no miracle drugs associated with NASH or Fatty Liver Syndrome, people are looking to vitamin and mineral supplements as components in healing. If left untreated, NASH and Fatty Liver Syndrome can result in severe liver damage. In cases like these, the patient may eventually require the extreme measure of a liver transplant.

How can Fatty Liver Syndrome be avoided?

To avoid fatty liver adopt and follow these guidelines:

Follow a low-fat and low-cholesterol diet Exercise regularly to maintain an ideal weight.

Establish a regimen to insure your body is receiving the necessary and essential vitamins and minerals.

Avoid alcohol Review medications to ensure that they aren't toxic to your liver.

Have blood sugar, cholesterol and triglyceride levels checked regularly

Nutritional causes are treated by impacting the availability of fat and modifying how it enters the liver. As many nutritional causes tend to be rooted in diet deficiencies this can be accomplished by providing available carbohydrates or by adding protein to overcome complete or large deficiencies. ( See South Beach Diet)

Proteins are used to make lipoproteins to carry cholesterol and fats. (Also see South Beach Diet) Doses of L-carnitine, Lecithin, Zinc, and Choline are also increasingly being recommended for patients.

Vitamins, Herbs, and Minerals

There are many well known and traditional vitamins, herbs, and minerals that may help the body deal with liver issues. The following is a list of items that are increasingly being studied in regards to fatty liver syndrome. Always talk with your doctor regarding your supplement and vitamin intakes.

Choline Choline is an essential nutrient that is found in foods, principally in the form of phosphatidylcholine but also as free choline. An association between a low-choline diet and fatty infiltration of the liver in rats has been documented for quite some time. Choline is a lipotrope, which is a substance that prevents deposition of fat in the liver.

Inositol Inositol is primarily used in the treatment of liver problems. It also aids in the breakdown of fats and helps in the reduction of blood cholesterol. It is necessary for the formation of lecithin and functions closely with Choline, folacin, Vitamins B-6 & B-12, betaine, and methionine to prevent the accumulation of fats in the liver.

Lecithin Lecithin is largely composed of choline, plus linoleic acid and inositol. It acts as an emulsifying agent, enabling fats and other lipids to be dispersed in water.

L-carnitine L-Carnitine is a water-soluble, B-vitamin-like nutrient that the body uses to turn fat into energy.

Milk Thistle (Silymarin) Composed of three flavonoids: primarily Silybin and minor amounts of Silydianin and Silychristin, which support liver function by raising protective glutathione levels. Milk Thistle is one of the more well known herbs to benefit the liver.

SAMe It has been suggested that SAMe acts as an "intracellular control switch" which regulates hepatic cellular regeneration, differentiation, protects against oxidative stress, and hepatotoxin exposure. (1) Lowered SAMe levels are suspected to lead to steatosis and steatohepatitis. (2)

Zinc Zinc is necessary for the metabolism of selenium. Both selenium and zinc found to be reduced in patients with Hepatitis C.

Household chemicals and Fatty Liver

If you have been diagnosed with Fatty Liver syndrome it is extremely important that you limit exposure to everyday chemicals that are already noted for their toxicity to the liver. It is important to use gloves or adequate protection when utilizing these chemicals in order to limit absorption. The following is a brief list of household chemicals that you should exercise care around:

Chlorinated aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons

Found in: Paint Thinner

Can cause liver and kidney damage.

Naphthalene

Naphthalene Also Known As: 1-methylnapthalene, and 2-methylnapthalene
May be Found in: Mothballs, Moth Flakes, Toilet Bowl Cleaners, Deodorant Blocks for toilets and diaper pails

Para-Dichlorobenzene

Para-Dichlorobenzene also known as: para-DCB, p-DCB, 1,4-Dichlorobenzene
Para-Dichlorobenzene is a probable carcinogen that can also harm the central nervous system, liver and kidneys.

Perchloroethylene

Also Known As: tetrachloroethylene, tetrachloroethane, 1-1-1 trichloroethane solvents, PCE

Found in: Dry Cleaning Fluid, Spot Removers, and Carpet Cleaners
Can cause liver and kidney damage if ingested. Can accumulate and persist in human fatty tissues and breast milk.

Phenol and cresol

Found in: Disinfectants

May cause diarrhea, fainting, dizziness, and kidney and liver damage

Toluene

Also Known As: methylbenzene

Found in: Adhesives, Nail Polish, Cosmetics, Rubber Cement, Paints, Paint Thinners, Lacquers, Stain Removers, Dyes and Inks.
toluene in highly toxic, may cause skin, kidney, liver, central nervous system damage; may damage reproductive system.

(1) Matt JM, Corrales FJ, Lu SC, Avila MA. S-adenosylmethionine: a control switch that regulates liver function. FASEB J 2002; 16:15-26.

(2) Rozenthal P, Biava C, Spencer H, et al. Liver morphology and function tests in obesity and during total starvation. Am J Dig Dis 1967; 12:198-208.

Child and Adolescent Liver Disease: Are We Creating the Next Generation of Transplant Recipients?

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Fatty Liver Disease Is a Ticking Time Bomb: Get Yourself Examined Today

Fatty liver disease is often ignored for its slow evolution process. Since the ailment is time dependent, a patient normally misunderstands the initial curveballs that this disease throws out. To make matters more complicated, Fatty Liver problems aren't strongly tied to alcoholics.

In biological terms, the liver disease is referred to as Alcoholic Liver Disease. By default, every healthy human being has a thin film of fat molecules that cover the muscle area. If the imbiber takes too much carbs and drinks a lot of beverages that are heavy on alcohol, the amount of fat inside the liver increases exponentially.

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This increased amount of fatty tissues can result in a variation of liver related problems. However, it was mentioned earlier that the problem isn't strongly reliant on alcohol intake. Henceforth, any obese person could be the next victim of this vile disease.

Due to overgrowing obesity levels, there are 35% individuals in America who're prone to liver diseases. The initial symptoms of this disease can be dished out as:

• Consistent level of discomfort and fatigue
• Dizziness and "weird gut" feeling in the upper abdominal cavity

In addition to above symptoms, a normal version (non-alcoholic) of fatty liver is regarded as Steatosis. Regardless of your drinking antics, patients with Steatosis based profile can also develop the following features, under the non-alcoholic fatty liver category:

• Rashes on skin with itchy feeling
• Vomit normally consists of blood strings
• Skin becomes hyper sensitive to bruises
• Memory loss
• Body loses muscle retention process. Palms get mottled and skin develops a yellowish color

An advanced stage of fatty liver disease is called fibrosis. It normally occurs when the liver delves into the Non-Alcoholic Hepatitis stage, which further develops scar tissues inside the liver. A consistency in fibrosis condition can lead to sever and often irreversible damage to the liver.

The abdominal ailment spreads over the following series of changes:

• Initial weight loss problems give vent to first stage of fatty liver disease
• With a Body Mass Index of 25.0+, the patient advances to the next level, which is T-2 Diabetes
• At this point, the affected body becomes resistant to insulin treatment
• Liver goes into fibrosis stage and increases blood pressure levels

Cure:

There is no permanent short termed cure for this disease. The patient has to be exposed to a series of drugs, over a scheduled interval of various months. After carrying out several tests that are spread over Ultrasound, blood tests, CAT and CT scans, doctors issue their prescription.

If your fatty liver disease was strictly a result of alcohol inhibition, you'll be advised to hold up on alcohol intake immediately. Mild cases are normally treated through prevention and medicine based prescriptions. Patients are always instructed to follow a decent diet and exercise regimen, which would result in rapid weight loss.

In worst case scenario, the subject is prepped for a liver transplant with serious repercussions as a result of the surgery.

Fatty Liver Disease Is a Ticking Time Bomb: Get Yourself Examined Today

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Why The Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Is More Difficult To Treat

Fatty liver disease, or hepatic steatosis, is a liver disorder which occurs when there is too much fat in the liver and has two types - alcoholic fatty liver (AFL) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The first one, alcoholic in nature, is about as common and as many as heavy alcoholic drinkers. These people are those who take in more than 60g of alcohol per day. However, even moderate (but regular) drinkers are also susceptible to the disease. Because of its singular cause, it is easier to treat compared to non-alcoholic liver fat disease.

The second type, non-alcoholic in nature, is different from the former because of the causes and the rate of how fast each develops. The accumulation of fat in the liver is due to one or more non-alcoholic causes such as high-fat diet, obesity, diabetes milletus, high triglyceride, and hypertension. Although it is the most common form of liver ailment, non-alcoholic disease is considered more difficult to treat due to its various possible sources. Numerous research studies have also concluded that it may lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma and eventually liver failure.

HEPATIC STEATOSIS

Non-alcoholic fatty liver can be prevented (or even reversed) through proper diet. It is generally asymptomatic, which means it does not show symptoms at its early stage. Usually, the symptoms reveal themselves when the condition has progressed to a more severe state, which is more dangerous.

A proper and healthy diet that can help worsen non-alcoholic liver disease consists of low fat or non-fat food, high fiber intake, and complex carbohydrates. One should also consider the essential vitamins, minerals, and food groups to determine the specific meals to take each day in order to treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Why The Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Is More Difficult To Treat

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What Is Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease?

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD involves the accumulation of fat in liver cells. If the patient with this disease does not consume excessive amounts of alcohol, the cause of the disease is nonalcoholic. In general, you may have some stage of NAFLD if the amount of fat in your liver cells is more than 5 to 10 percent of your liver's total weight.

If there is no liver inflammation (hepatitis) or liver scarring (fibrosis), fat accumulation in your liver is not considered serious. However, if fat continues to accumulate in your liver for many years, it can lead to serious health conditions such as hepatitis, fibrosis or perhaps to the irreversible liver scarring condition known as cirrhosis.

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Stages of NAFLD

Fatty Liver or steatosis is the initial and simplest stage of NAFLD. It involves the accumulation of triglyceride fat in your liver cells without any inflammation or scarring. Even though it is not a normal liver condition, it is not considered serious as long as it does not develop into liver inflammation or damage.

A more serious stage of NAFLD can develop into nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH in a fraction of patients with fatty liver. NASH is the combination of liver fat accumulation and liver inflammation. If it is not treated, NASH over time can cause serious liver scarring.

If the initial stages of liver scarring go untreated, it can lead to the last and most severe stage of NAFLD. It is called cirrhosis of the liver. It is irreversible liver scarring. The liver is not able to function properly, and can develop into liver failure, liver cancer and liver related death, if the scarring is extensive.

What causes NAFLD and NASH?

The exact cause for this disease is still unknown. However, one common factor among NAFLD and NASH patients is insulin resistance.

Other risk factors for NAFLD are obesity, diet and a family history of NAFLD.

Another report by the Linus Pauling Institute states that when choline intake is inadequate, fat accumulates in the liver and develops into fatty liver. When choline supply in the diet returns to normal, liver function also returns to normal. Choline is considered an essential nutrient, and is similar to the vitamin B group. Choline is used by our body in the transport and metabolism of fats.

Food sources of choline include beef liver, wheat germ, egg yolks, beef, broccoli, brewer's yeast and lecithin. You can get choline supplements as choline chloride and choline bitartrate, but many consider soy lecithin to be more absorbable by the body.

Symptoms of Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty liver patients may not notice any symptoms at all in the early stages of the disease. Many years may pass before patients notice any symptoms.

However, if you get regular physical examines, your doctor should notice the signs of NAFLD before it reaches the NASH or cirrhosis stages. For patients who do notice symptoms of this disease, they may experience a dull ache just below their ribcage on their right side. It is dull and not an intense pain as when you have a gallbladder attack. Other symptoms that patients may have are:

Nausea Weight loss Fatigue And an enlarged liver.

Treatment for Fatty Liver Disease

Some research has shown that a change in exercise routine and diet can reverse this disease and restore liver function.

Losing weight slowly through an increase in physical activity and a change in your diet is crucial in reversing this disease.. Gradual weight loss is very important. You can make your fatty liver condition worse with the addition of liver inflammation, if you lose your weight too fast. It is recommended that you target your weight loss to 1 or 2 pounds each week, and no more than that.

To improve your liver health, you should:

Never abuse alcohol Don't abuse the use of medications or drugs Don't eat foods high in saturated fats Don't eat food with added sugar Stay away from highly processed foods like white or bleached flour, white bread or while rice Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables Exercise regularly Don't smoke and avoid environmental toxins Make sure that your diet includes adequate amounts of choline And eat whole grain breads and brown rice in moderation.

By living a lifestyle that promote liver health, you not only improve your chances of reversing and avoiding nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, you also allow your liver to perform its functions, such as:

Breaking down nutrients Manufacture proteins and cholesterol Store glucose, vitamin B12, fats, copper and iron Form and excrete bile Eliminate body waste products, excess cholesterol and bilirubin And detoxify harmful drugs, alcohol and environmental toxins.

What Is Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease?

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Fatty Liver Disease: What You Need to Know

The liver is one of the most complex organs in the human body. The job description of this organ includes an important role in metabolizing and detoxification. Many individuals suffer from a condition called fatty liver disease or (FDL). Like any disease to the liver it's important to catch this before it gets out of hand.

How to discover if you have fatty liver disease?

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When a type of fat known as triglyceride accumulates in liver cells, a blockage or backup takes place called steatosis. Generally there are no obvious symptoms. The most common way for your doctor to detect fatty liver disease is through a blood test. Elevated liver enzymes are the first sign that there may be an issue. Fat retention in the cells is the basic cause of fatty liver disease, but determining what is causing this fat build up will determine how your doctor treats you.

Who is at risk of fatty liver disease?

Anyone is at risk of developing fatty liver disease. The causes range from malnutrition, exposure to drugs or toxins, as well as hepatitis C. Those most likely to suffer from this include diabetics, alcoholics, and those suffering from obesity. One of the effects of a more severe case of (FLD) is inflammation of the liver which can cause a host of other complications in your liver as well as other organs. After determination of the presence of elevated enzymes, your doctor may order an ultra sound and ultimately an MRI is order to have a closer look at the organ. Alcohol consumption may or may not be the cause of this ailment, but a rule of thumb is measurement of consumption. Less than two drinks per day would indicate a non-alcoholic fatty liver while two or more alcoholic drinks per day would lead to alcoholic fatty liver disease.

What are my chances for treating for recovery?

If caught early, the chances of recovery are generally positive. This assumption is based on determining what is causing (FLD) to begin with. If for example, if alcohol consumption is the cause, simply cutting down considerably or quitting all together may prevent future complications such as cirrhosis of the liver. On the other hand, if the cause is determined to be metabolic in nature, such as diabetes, then the road to recovery may take a different turn. With diabetes, the disease causes other complications in the body such as fatty liver. This is primarily due to excessively high levels of glucose in the blood. It's impossible to tackle the fatty liver issue until the cause, diabetes in under control. One of the destructive results of fatty liver is inflammation. One of the most natural ways to fight this is with Omega 3 fish oil. Fish oil is full of fatty acids that work to control and decrease inflammation in the body. Foods with high concentrations of EPA and DHA, fatty acids found in fish oil have been clinically proven to combat the inflammation that results from fatty liver disease. Omega 3 fish oil has been proven to combat fat build up in the blood, as evidenced by controlling excessive levels of cholesterol. The same fatty acids found in fish oil have proven to fight hepatitis which is inflammation of the liver.

Conclusion

Make no mistake about it. There is a solution to fatty liver disease. First thing is to determine if you are suffering from this disease when you have your next blood drawn. Once you know what the cause is, you can take the active steps to combat this problem. Inflammation is a major problem but can be dealt with using high quality Omega 3 fish oil. Take that step to better health today.

Fatty Liver Disease: What You Need to Know

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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.

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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

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Disease Acquired by Being Obese

Irregular or extreme fat build up that causes health problem is what we usually call as overweight and obesity. Globally, it has reached to an epidemic percentage with almost a billion adults overweight, 300 million are medically diagnosed as obese- the major provider to the worldwide burden of chronic diseases and disability. In countries with problems in under-nutrition, obesity is a multifaceted situation with social and psychological aspect that affects all ages and socioeconomic status.

The condition of overweight and obesity may cause harmful effects on blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and insulin resistance. Consequences of obesity may lead to some confusion because a lot of medical circumstance implicates in the growth of obesity per SE.

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Normally, when body fats increases, Type 2 diabetes and hypertension develops. Sad to say these diseases affects obese children even before reaching puberty. According to statistics, 85% of people with diabetes are type 2 and among these 90% are obese or overweight.

Another disease that can be acquired with obesity is the life threatening breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate, endothermic (mucous membrane lining the womb), kidney and gallbladder. The unceasing overweight and obesity add to the significant number of people who suffer from osteoarthritis, a main cause of adult disability.

Hypercholesterolemia, an unusually high level of cholesterol in the blood is another disease caused by obesity and overweight. Obese children may even acquire high blood pressure and the occurrence of hypertension regardless of race, sex and age. The metabolic syndrome, a problem relating to or typical of metabolism may give the higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. Orthopaedic complications in child obesity are important. It causes Blount disease, an overgrowth of medical aspect of proximal tibial metaphysic that may lead to curving of the legs.

The most common though to overweight and obese children that may also cause hypertension, daytime fatigue and pulmonary hypertension is the obstructive sleep apnea. The NAFLD or the Nonalchoholic fatty liver disease is the mild growth in transaminases, a hyperechoic liver on ultrasound and proof of steatosis and peeriportal fibrosis on histologic emaninations. Thus in due time, liver cirrhosis may take place.

The weight of a person is a result of how you interact witht he environment, family history and genetics, metabolism (the way the body changes food and oxygen into energy), the behaviour and habits among others. Some of these factors may not be change such as family history but lifestyle habits can.

In order to get healthy and fit body, weight-loss treatments should take into consideration. Eating calories fewer than you are used to and doing physical activities are just a few of the methods for weight loss. Medicine and surgical weight loss are another option when changes in lifestyle are not meet.

What comprises a healthy eating plan is that it must be low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium (salt) and added sugar. A healthy eating plan gives nutrients the body needs on a day to day basis. To lose more weight or maintain your weight loss program is to continue lifestyle changes. It is really essential to make changes of bad habits.

Disease Acquired by Being Obese

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How To Reverse Fatty Liver Disease - This Is How To Treat Fatty Liver The Natural Way!

Fatty liver is a disease in which too much fat gets accumulated inside the liver cells. The disease is also known as steatosis. The abnormal accumulation of fat in the liver was first observed in alcoholics, but later it was found that the condition also occurs in non-alcoholics. It usually appears in people who are obese or diabetics or to those who suffer from hypertriglyceridemia.

The exact reason that causes this condition is not fully understood. It seems that is some people, excessive fatty acids do not get stored in the fat cells, where they are usually stored and end up in the liver. Fats remain outside the cells and they cause the onset of a series of reactions leading to damage of hepatocytes. Women are affected more often, and the disease can occur in all age groups including children.

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The condition has no symptoms, but in some rare cases the individual can experience abdominal pain, fever or swelling in the stomach. Due to the fact that the condition is usually asymptomatic, the reason for the visit to the doctor is the discovery of fatty infiltration of the liver ultrasound or an increase in the transaminases in blood tests. The frequency of non-alcoholic fatty liver varies, but in some countries it is between 15-20% of the population and it increases with age and the presence of obesity or diabetes.

More specifically, the causes of the hepatic steatosis are the following:

Alcohol: The regular consumption of alcohol is one of the most common causes of this condition. Practically all patients who report long-term alcohol consumption suffer from hepatic steatosis. Medication: steroids, synthetic estrogen, oral contraceptives and more can cause hepatic steatosis, when taken for long periods of time. Diabetes: the risk of the disease increases when diabetes remains untreated. Obesity: Obesity and mainly abdominal obesity can be responsible for the disease. Sudden weight loss, crash diets resulting in rapid weight loss and can cause fat deposition in the liver. Other causes: A number of diseases such as hepatitis C, Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis and Wilson disease can also cause hepatic steatosis.

How to treat fatty liver disease:

The treatment of the disorder includes the shedding of excessive pounds and the maintenance of normal body weight. Losing weight is the most important step you could take to eliminate this condition. Some studies have shown that 20% to 40% of overweight or obese patients will develop hepatic steatosis. You should also include some physical activity in your lifestyle and take medicines to lower blood cholesterol. Your diet should include a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables and it would be a good idea to avoid junk food.

How To Reverse Fatty Liver Disease - This Is How To Treat Fatty Liver The Natural Way!

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