Fatty liver disease can lead to cancer

NEW DELHI: Rampant downing of alcohol and increasing prevalence of obesity would in a few decades lead to patients with fatty liver disease requiring transplants surpassing those of hepatitis B and C, say experts.
“Due to vaccination for hepatitis B and effective medications now available for both hepatitis B and C, the incidence of liver failure due to them has been on the decline.
Alcoholic and NAFL (non-alcoholic fatty liver) disease could also lead to cancer, and liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world,” Ravi Mohanka, chief surgeon and head of department, hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery and liver transplantation, Global Hospitals, Mumbai, told IANS.
He added that if the damage is not controlled at this stage by lifestyle changes, “it may progressively lead to liver cirrhosis, requiring a liver transplant”.
The liver is the second largest organ in one’s body, which is located under the rib cage on the right side, and performs many jobs in the body. It processes what one eats and drinks into energy and nutrients the body uses. The liver also removes harmful substances from the blood.
Experts said NAFL disease is now one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease, which could be caused by obesity, eating junk food, lack of exercise, diabetes and high cholesterol.
“It has been seen in various studies that nearly 20 percent of the general population suffers from NAFL. This figure increases to up to 80 percent in the obese and diabetics.
Up to five percent of these can develop progressive disease,” Yogesh Batra, director and senior consultant, gastroenterology, BLK Super Specialty Hospital, told IANS.