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MAFLD or metabolic fatty liver disease is the new name for a condition previously known as NAFLD - non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. According to many experts, the new name defines the complex problem of fatty liver disease much better and more accurately, and also allows for a holistic approach to this issue.
MAFLDis an abbreviation of the English name metabolic associated fatty liver disease. For some time this name will be used interchangeably with the so far used NAFLD (non alcoholic fatty liver disease), i.e. non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
The name change suggested by international experts in Gastroeneterology is due to a change in approach to the causes of fatty liver disease.
The new definition, in which this disease is related to metabolic disorders and not alcohol-dependent (or independent), will allow for the diagnosis of patients at risk of fatty liver and their effective treatment.
Causes MAFLD
Metabolic fatty liver diseasehas a variety of causes. The most common are metabolic disorders associated with a variety of diseases, including obesity, type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
MAFLD is also diagnosed in people with only obesity or only type 2 diabetes.
It can also develop in people who have a normal BMI - as research has shown, an increase in the amount of visceral fat by just 1%. as much as 40 percent increases the amount of lipids accumulated in the liver.
In people with a he althy body weight, the risk of MAFLD increases the risk of at least two factors, such as: arterial hypertension, high triglyceride levels (over 150 mg / dl), low HDL cholesterol (below 40 mg / dl in men and below 50 mg / dl in women), as well as pre-diabetes, HOMA-IR value above 2.5 and elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP).
Symptoms of MAFLD
Metabolic fatty liver disease often lacks obvious symptoms prompting you to see your doctor as soon as possible.
Some people, however, feel the symptoms of fatty liver, which include:
- fatigue andweakening
- discomfort, pressure and even pain under the right costal arch
- noticeable enlargement of the liver
- abnormal fasting blood glucose levels seen in laboratory tests
MAFLD diagnosis
Metabolic fatty liver disease can be suspected in any person who is obese, has type 2 diabetes, hypertension, or elevated fasting glucose. However, they can only be confirmed by specific research.
To assess fatty liver the following is done:
- ultrasound of the liver
- elastography - a test that allows you to assess both fatty liver and the degree of its fibrosis
- liver biopsy - when other liver pathologies are suspected.
MAFLD treatment
MAFLD treatment is complicated and requires simultaneous treatment of its causes or underlying disease - such as obesity or type 2 diabetes. Weight reduction is very important - to reduce fatty liver it is enough to reduce weight by 5%. In turn, weight reduction by 10 to 40 percent. it also reduces the severity of inflammation and damage to hepatocytes, and reduces the risk of liver fibrosis.
In the pharmacological treatment of metabolic fatty liver disease, drugs are used to improve liver function, have antioxidant properties, normalize the metabolism of hepatocytes, and reduce fibrosis.
In Poland, preparations of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) at a dose of 10-15 mg / kg body weight per day, as well as high doses of vitamin E (400-800 IU / day) are used for the treatment of MAFLD. However, it is worth knowing that vitamin E is used with caution in men over the age of 50 due to the potential possibility of developing prostate cancer and an increased risk of stroke.
