Medical Condition Library

Information Centers

Wellness Centers

Helpful Resources

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

(NAFLD, Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis [NASH])

by Cynthia M. Johnson, MA

Home | Health Information Center | Disease, Condition, & Injury Fact Sheets | Article

Definition

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a buildup of fat in the liver that is not caused by drinking alcohol.

The Liver

Causes

NAFLD happens when the liver cannot break down fats and they build up in liver tissue. Many health problems can make it hard for the liver to break down fats.

Risk Factors

Things that may raise the risk of NAFLD are:

Obesity
Diabetes
Metabolic syndrome
High triglyceride levels
A large waistline
Severe weight loss
Some medicines
Exposure to certain chemicals

Symptoms

Most people do not have symptoms. Those who do may have:

Fatigue
Pain in the upper right side of the belly
Muscle weakness
Yellowing of the skin and the white part of the eyes

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done.

Blood tests will be done to look for raised liver enzymes.

Images may be taken to look at the liver. This can be done with:

Ultrasound
CT scan
MRI scan

A sample of the liver may be tested. This can be done with a liver biopsy.

Treatment

The cause of NAFLD will need to be treated. Options may be:

Working with a dietitian to eat a healthful diet to lose weight
Exercising regularly
Medicine to treat the cause of NAFLD

People with severe symptoms may need bariatric surgery.

Prevention

The risk of NAFLD can be lowered with diet and exercise.

RESOURCES:

American Liver Foundation
https://www.liverfoundation.org

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
https://www.niddk.nih.gov

CANADIAN RESOURCES

Canadian Liver Foundation
https://www.liver.ca

Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca

References:

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. American Liver Foundation website. Available at: https://www.liverfoundation.org/for-patients/about-the-liver/diseases-of-the-liver/non-alcoholic-fatty-liver-disease. Accessed May 5, 2020.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dyname... . Updated December 17, 2019. Accessed May 5, 2020.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/nafld-nash. Accessed May 5, 2020.

Rinella ME. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review. JAMA. 2015 Jun 9;313(22):2263-2273.

Last reviewed February 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Daniel A. Ostrovsky, MD
Last Updated: 5/5/2020

EBSCO Information Services is fully accredited by URAC. URAC is an independent, nonprofit health care accrediting organization dedicated to promoting health care quality through accreditation, certification and commendation.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

To send comments or feedback to our Editorial Team regarding the content please email us at healthlibrarysupport@ebsco.com. Our Health Library Support team will respond to your email request within 2 business days.