Impact on health behaviours on liver Flashcards
What are limitations of BMI?
- does not distinguish between body fat and muscle
- high levels of abdominal fat increases risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease and liver disease
- waist circumference has more a link with abdominal fat increases risk
how does obesity affect the body?
-puts stress of the body, pressure on joints
- fat interferes with other pathways affecting bodily function
what factors increase obesity?
- balance between intake and energy use
- if intake exceeds, calories are stored as fat
- high intake of processed food/alcohol
- medical conditions
- genetic variability
what percentage of obese individuals are estimated to have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?
25%
what is benign fatty liver (steatosis)
fat accumulation in liver cells
What is NASH
Non-alcoholic steato hepatitis
- fat accumulation in cells
- inflammation
- higher morbidity
what is fibrosis of liver?
scar tissue collagen and extracellular matrix proteins are deposited in response to injury
what is cirrhosis of the liver?
- accumulation of scar tissue blocks blood flow, affects function
- hard nodules and fibrosis replace normal liver architecture
what is hepatocellular carcinoma?
- primary malignancy of the liver
what are symptoms of NASH
fatigue
loss of appetite
abdominal discomfort
jaundice
itch
What are examples of genetic variants NASH is linked to
PNPLA3 (codes for lipase enzyme the mediates triacylglycerol hydrolysis in adipocytes)
TM6SF2 (activity required for normal secretion of very low density lipoproteins)
What is NAFLD independently associated with?
- cardiovascular disease -chronic kidney disease
- type 2 diabetes
how does fat in the liver and skeletal muscle affect insulin release?
increases release and disturbs metabolism
what is alcoholic liver disease?
- biggest risk factor for death in males <60 years
- patients more likely to have a pattern of regular heavy drinking
- higher frequency associated with a higher risk of liver disease
