Non-alcoholic fatty liver occurs when fat accumulates in liver cells due to obesity or abnormal lipid metabolism, regardless of drinking. According to the Korean Society for the Liver, the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver in Korea is estimated at 20-30%, and it is considered one of the most common diseases in adults.
As a ‘silent organ’, the liver does not show any clear symptoms of deterioration or damage. The same goes for fatty liver. Experts say that improving lifestyle habits that are harmful to the liver is a way to cope with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. What lifestyle habits cause fatty liver?
Non-alcoholic fatty liver is closely related to diet｜Source: Getty Image Bank
Excessive intake of ‘sugar’ causes fatty liver
Carbohydrates, which are considered the cause of obesity, are also the main cause of non-alcoholic fatty liver. When carbohydrates are consumed, insulin is secreted to lower blood sugar levels. When insulin increases, the amount of free fatty acids entering the liver cells increases, and the new synthesis of fat in the liver increases, thereby encouraging the development of fatty liver.
Excessive secretion of insulin can easily lead to obesity because the body stores excess glucose as body fat. Obesity is a major risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. According to the data of the Korean Association for the Study of the Liver, the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver is 10-24% in the general population, but it reaches 58-74% in obese cases.
Haidak Gastroenterology Counseling Doctor Kim Ju-il (Yonsei-Hyu Internal Medicine Clinic) said, “If you have fatty liver, it can lead to cardiovascular disease later, so you must be treated and managed.” reduction,” he says.
Reduce sugar and exercise steadily, UDCA helps
To prevent fatty liver, you need to maintain a balanced diet while reducing carbohydrate intake. Refined carbohydrates such as bread, snacks, and noodles are quickly absorbed by the body and raise blood sugar rapidly, so it is better to eat as little as possible. Along with diet management, regular exercise is also important. The amount of exercise recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for adults is at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise per week. However, sudden weight loss in patients with fatty liver can worsen the symptoms. It is advisable to set a goal of gradually losing 10% of your current weight in 3 to 6 months.
Taking nutritional supplements is also a way, but a well-known one is UDCA (ursodeoxycholic acid). UDCA, a tertiary bile acid component, is not only used for liver disease treatment, but also for liver nutrition and indigestion. The main mechanism of UDCA is to help the discharge of toxic substances introduced into the body and to protect liver cells through antioxidant action. It also helps prevent excess cholesterol from accumulating in the liver.
A synergistic effect can be obtained by using milk thistle together with UDCA. Silymarin, a key component of milk thistle, has the effect of preventing liver cell destruction and helping regeneration, so taking it together with UDCA can protect and manage the liver more effectively.
Help = Haidaq Counseling Doctor Kim Ju-il (Yonsei Hyu Internal Medicine Clinic)
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