Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Dr Kuhu Roy, an independent Nutrition Consultant, talks about the symptoms and preventive measures for this lesser known, silent liver disease

- Dr Kuhu Roy

The liver is the biggest organ inside the human body, tasked with digesting and metabolising the macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins and fats), and plays a significant role in detoxification, among many other crucial biological functions. Unfortunately, the liver does not get as much attention as it deserves. Liver health in India is usually not looked beyond viral hepatitis, given the magnitude of its burden. That is where a silent health bomb ticks, termed as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

What is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition wherein fat deposition (in the form of triglycerides) occurs in the liver cells of individuals who are either teetotallers or consume non-significant amounts of alcohol [1]. It is globally the most common liver disease [2, 3]. In India, it is postulated that one in four urban Indians maybe having NAFLD [4]. The number of NAFLD cases are escalating, in tandem with the prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and other risk factors that predispose to NAFLD [1, 5].

What are the risk factors for NAFLD?