Do fatty livers need to be treated?

Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 23, 2024
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Fatty liver refers to the excessive accumulation of fat in liver cells. For mild fatty liver, clinical symptoms are not obvious, and there are not many abnormal indicators during physical examinations. In such cases, one can adjust the diet and increase exercise appropriately to promote the consumption of fat in the body. If there is a significant liver function abnormality, increased transaminases, and symptoms of nausea and vomiting, one can choose to use medications that protect the liver, reduce lipids, and provide antioxidants for treatment. At the same time, it is important to maintain a positive mindset and regularly visit the hospital for follow-up checks. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Wo Cheng
Hepatology
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Can mild fatty liver heal itself?

Mild fatty liver can potentially be cured. Mild fatty liver refers to a lesser accumulation of fat in the liver. If one can effectively control their diet and enhance physical exercise, healing can be achieved. Fatty liver means that a large number of fat cells are not consumed and accumulate in the liver, causing damage to the liver cells, which we call fatty liver. In people with mild fatty liver, there is less fat accumulated in the liver. If one can persist in effectively controlling their diet while also appropriately strengthening physical exercise, self-healing can occur. People with fatty liver also need to regularly monitor liver function for any changes. If there is liver damage, it may be necessary to receive appropriate treatment with liver-protecting drugs. If liver function is normal, simply exercising reasonably and controlling diet can alleviate symptoms and signs.

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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Can mild fatty liver heal itself?

Mild fatty liver does not require medication and may return to normal through dietary adjustments or changes in lifestyle habits. For mild fatty liver, the diet should primarily be light and avoid greasy, rich foods, as well as fried or grilled items, and foods high in cholesterol like egg yolks, animal organs, and seafood. Additionally, increasing physical activity can enhance metabolism, which is beneficial for the recovery from fatty liver. Furthermore, it is important to avoid excessive fatigue and staying up late, as both can exacerbate fatty liver. Keeping a relaxed mood and avoiding excessive anxiety or depression is also crucial, as worry and stress can also damage the liver.

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Written by Tang Li
Cardiology
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Is hyperlipidemia fatty liver disease?

Hyperlipidemia and fatty liver are actually two different concepts. Hyperlipidemia is essentially dyslipidemia, which refers to abnormal quality and quantity of lipids in the plasma. The tests for blood lipids include total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. With our medical history, physical signs, and laboratory tests, diagnosing hyperlipidemia is not difficult. The current diagnostic criteria are mainly based on the 2017 Chinese guidelines for the prevention and treatment of dyslipidemia in adults, where low-density lipoprotein greater than 4.14 mmol/L suggests elevated low-density lipoprotein. Fatty liver, on the other hand, refers to excessive fat accumulation within liver cells due to various reasons, and is a common pathological change in the liver, rather than an independent disease. Patients with hyperlipidemia are prone to fatty liver.

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Written by Shen Jiang Chao
Radiology
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Fatty liver MRI manifestations

Fatty liver, also known as hepatic steatosis, typically appears normal in most cases on MRI. However, a minority of cases may show high signals on T1 and T2. In fat-suppressed sequences, the high signals disappear after the fat is suppressed, appearing as low signal shadows. MRI has a specific sequence for examining fatty liver, known as the dual-echo sequence, which includes two sequences: one is the in-phase sequence and the other is called the opposed-phase sequence. The in-phase sequence examines the liver parenchyma, while a characteristic feature in the opposed-phase sequence is the significant decrease in signal in areas of fatty metamorphosis.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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Does having fatty liver and farting a lot mean expelling fat?

Fatty liver causing frequent flatulence does not involve expelling fats. The condition may be due to indigestion and rapid intestinal movements caused by the fatty liver. In such cases, further comprehensive auxiliary examinations are required, such as liver function tests, colonoscopy, hepatic imaging studies, and lipid tests to identify the causes of these symptoms and provide appropriate treatment based on those causes. Treatment can include the use of compound digestive enzymes to aid digestion, as well as medications like Bacillus cereus and Bifidobacterium tribacillus to regulate the gut flora. Patients with fatty liver should also control their diet by adopting a low-fat diet and engaging in feasible physical exercise and weight loss. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)