People with metabolic syndrome at higher risk for fatty liver disease

MANILA, Philippines - People who are obese, have diabetes and insulin resistance, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high triglyceride in their blood — collectively known as the metabolic syndrome — are at risk for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

This was revealed by Dr. Asa’d Izziddin Dajani, a renowned gastroenterologist and hepatologist from the United Arab Emirates who was in the country recently to give a talk on liver health.

NAFLD refers to the accumulation of excess fat in the liver despite small or no consumption of alcohol.

Dajani said NAFLD is more common than people think, attaining a global prevalence estimate of 10 to 30 percent among the general population in the Asia-Pacific region. Half of this estimate is most probably obese, type 2 diabetic or has high blood lipids. 

While people with fatty liver may be asymptomatic, Dajani said the disease should not be taken lightly. Three to 40 percent of NAFLD cases can progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) wherein the liver gets inflamed and scarred. This can lead to cirrhosis, an irreversible damage to the liver, then advance to liver cancer and eventually, death.

“NAFLD can lead to long-term complications such as cryptogenic cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as increased liver-related mortality,” Dajani said.

With NAFLD now considered the hepatic component of the metabolic syndrome, all the more that clinicians should screen their patients presenting with the metabolic syndrome, diagnose carefully, assess risks for possible progression and direct treatments to address the components of the metabolic syndrome. 

People most at risk of NAFLD are advised to adhere to a healthy lifestyle. Weight loss and physical activity have been shown to prevent the progression of the disease.

There are also treatments available for NAFLD. Dajani said one of the most important support nutrients for the liver is the essential phospholipid (EPL) phosphatidylcholine (PC) which he considers the building block for cell membranes. 

He said clinical trials indicate that PC protects the liver against damage from alcohol, pharmaceutical and, pollutant substances, and viruses. It plays an important role in helping liver cells regenerate from the damage caused by excessive fats in the liver.

In the country, a pure de-oiled phospolipids from soya beans is already available (Essential Forte P). Dajani said one should take Essential Forte P for a minimum of six months to benefit from the EPL it contains.