Overweight, obesity linked to liver ailment, says expert

MANILA, Philippines - Overweight and obesity are major health problems worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates that there will be 2.3 billion overweight adults worldwide by 2015. Out of this number, 700 million people will become obese. 

In the Philippines, a survey done in 2003 by the Philippine National Nutritional Health Evaluation and Survey showed that there are 19.6 percent and 4.9 percent overweight and obese Filipinos, respectively.  

These statistics are significant because overweight and obesity are known risk factors for chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular problems and a form of liver problem called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).   

NAFLD

NAFLD is a term for a wide range of conditions characterized by the build-up of fat in the liver cells of people who do not drink alcohol excessively. The fat is actually composed of a particular type of fat (triglyceride) that accumulates in tiny sacs within the liver cells.

Prof. Asad Dajani, a world-renowned gastroenterologist and hepatologist, was in the country recently to discuss updates in the management of NAFLD with the country’s liver experts.

He explained that the presence of excess fat in the liver alone is not necessarily a serious problem. “Most people with NAFLD only carry small amounts of fat which usually is not harmful to the liver. We call this steatosis and patients are lucky if they are diagnosed at this early stage,” he said.

However, if not diagnosed and managed early, the condition may progress to steatohepatitis where the liver becomes inflamed. This could lead to fibrosis where persistent inflammation in the liver results in the production of fibrous scar tissue around the liver cells and blood vessels.

“This could eventually lead to cirrhosis where liver damage may be permanent. This is life-threatening and the only option left for the patient is liver transplantation,” he said.

Managing the disease

Dajani said shifting to a healthier lifestyle can be an effective intervention to those who are at risk of developing NAFLD. Patients who are obese should lose weight through regular exercise.

However, precautions should be taken for those who have diabetes or hypertension by consulting their doctors first to manage their blood sugar and blood pressure.

Aside from lifestyle changes, there are medications that help in managing this disease. So far, there is no magic bullet but an array of medications that can be beneficial if the patient has other co-morbidities, as well.

There are medications that are good for those with fatty liver and hypertension, for example. And another one that is good for those with fatty liver and impaired fasting glucose or beginning diabetes. 

There are also hepatoprotectors that can be taken to help support the liver. One particular, said Dajani, is that the intake of essential phospholipids (EPL) is beneficial in managing fatty liver. 

Essential phospholipids have the potential to reduce the levels of fat in the liver. They facilitate metabolism of neutral fats and cholesterol and inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. 

Most importantly, according to Dajani, they are the only natural supplement that has been clinically proven to normalize liver function and even promote liver cell regeneration.