Photo by Adam Wilson on Unsplash
Have you already read in our first part where a fatty liver comes from and where it leads? If not, you can find it under the following link.
What should you know?
This topic is of interest to at least 35% of the population, because so many people have already produced a fatty liver.
We have therefore decided to deal with the topic extensively in several parts.
Part 2
In this part, we will look at what can be done about the possibility of fatty liver disease.
Change of eating habits
Recently, the news that many foods unnecessarily contain sugar and fructose has been circulating in the media. Perhaps you are thinking now: ‘Well yes, the soft drinks.’ Yes, many soft drinks have a very high sugar content. But often foods that you wouldn’t expect at first also have a very high sugar content, such as tomato ketchup or balsamic vinegar. We once checked various convenience foods for their sugar content by walking through our supermarket. We were really shocked how high the sugar content was in many foods and we would like to encourage you to do the same.
So: sugar, carbohydrates and fats down, proteins, salads and vegetables up, however you implement this for you. The goal should be to reduce weight, which changes the lipids (fats) in the liver in the long term. On the subject of nutrition, see also our article on acne, part 2.
Exercise
Exercise – this is no big secret for you – also helps to reduce your own weight. But even if you don’t succeed in reducing your weight through exercise: a moderate workout (e.g. aerobics) 3 times a week for 30-45 minutes already reduces the fat in the liver after 4 weeks, according to a study from 2009. Another study was able to confirm these results, also showing a significant reduction in liver fat after 8 weeks of training in the gym.
Medication
Some drugs were investigated, such as thiozolidiniones, which are drugs that were used in diabetes. However, the side effects (keyword cardiotoxicity = toxic to the heart muscle) were so great that they are no longer used in diabetes, or are used in a very restricted manner.
Ursodeoxycholic acid was another active ingredient that initially spread a glimmer of hope, spurred on by some publications. In the meantime, however, extensive studies have shown that this active ingredient is not recommended. In the USA, the relevant organizations (AASLD and ACG) have also advised against using ursodeoxycholic acid for fatty liver.
Another group of drugs are those which directly treat lipids such as statins, fibrates, etc., i.e. which are used for disorders of lipid metabolism. In those fatty liver diseases where these disorders are present, medication with these substances can be considered (keywords: hyperlipidemia, elevation of LDL cholesterol).
In short, to date, there is no convincing answer through medication and no single drug that has led to routine use in all fatty liver patients.
Only changes in lifestyle habits such as diet and exercise have so far produced convincing results. Really no help in sight? Read our parts 3 and 4 on the use of PPC in the therapy of alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver.