Fatty liver disease is the name given to a buildup of fat inside the cells of the liver. Approximately 10 to 20 percent of people in the United States have fatty liver disease, according to the American Liver Foundation. Fatty liver disease often causes few symptoms. A person with a fatty liver may experience abdominal discomfort or tenderness, often in the area of the liver, the upper right section of the abdomen. Different types of fatty liver disease have different causes.
Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
The consumption of large amounts of alcohol can lead to a buildup a fat within liver cells. The liver is responsible for breaking down alcohol that is in the blood stream. One of the byproducts of alcohol metabolism is fat. Therefore, drinking large amounts of alcohol means the liver must break down large amounts of alcohol, which results in large amounts of fat in the liver, explains Jackson-Sigelbaum Gastroenterology. At this stage, fatty liver disease can be treated by not consuming any more alcohol.
Alcoholic Hepatitis
If a person with alcoholic fatty liver disease continues to drink large amounts of alcohol, the excess fat will cause alcoholic hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver. At this stage, the liver starts to become damaged by the inflammation, and more serious symptoms may occur. Ceasing to consume alcohol at this stage will lead to a reduction in the inflammation of the liver.
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Fatty liver disease can also occur in people who do not drink alcohol. In cases of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a metabolic disorder often causes the accumulation of fat inside the liver. Eating fatty foods itself does not cause fatty liver disease; instead, complex metabolic functions result in fat being stored in the liver. Obesity, diabetes and high blood triglycerides are all factors that increase the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Roughly 20 to 40 percent of obese Americans are likely to develop nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, reports the Mayo Clinic.
Nonalcoholic Steatorrhoeic Hepatitis
If nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is not treated, it may progress into nonalcoholic steatorrhoeic hepatitis, or NASH. Similar to alcoholic hepatitis, NASH is characterized by inflammation of the liver resulting from an excessive amount of fat in the liver. Damage may start to occur to the liver at this stage of disease. If the underlying condition causing the fatty liver disease is not treated, permanent damage and scarring of the liver may occur, leading to a life-threatening condition known as cirrhosis.
