Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease - 1779 Words

For the past few decades there has been a chronic disease plaguing society’s young children. This chronic disease has spread worldwide with the numbers of diseased children is expected to increase in the next decade. This chronic disease is obesity. Along with the rise of obesity among youth, there is a new silent killer linked to childhood obesity. This new chronic disease, typically found in alcoholics, is now becoming prevalent in obese children and is called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is defined as a liver disease in people who have not consumed alcohol in significant amounts to cause liver damage, and in whom no other etiology for fatty liver is present (Prashant, 2007, p. 401). Ulrich, an MD at the Birmingham†¦show more content†¦In a study by Giorgio, an MD at regional hospital of Bolzano, found that using MRI, â€Å"14 children had steatosis, with 8 of 14 subjects with severe fatty infiltration and 6 of 14 with mild form† (Giorgio, 2005, p. 834). Ultrasound has been helpful in detecting fat accumulation, but it does not detect fibrosis as effectively. Prashant reported an ultrasound study by Joseph et al reported,â€Å" A sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 93% in detecting steatosis in the liver, and a sensitivity of 77% and specificity of 89% in detecting increased fibrosis in the liver† ( Prashant, 2007, p. 402). That same study showed that the MRI reported a sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 100% in detecting NAFLD when combined with serum aminotransferases (ATL) levels (Prashant, 2007, p.402). With these findings, it can be concluded that MRI is better at detecting NAFLD than ultrasound. However, MRI is only accurate at 100% when combined with taking ALT and aspartate aminotransferases (AST) serum blood levels. ALT and AST are liver enzymes in the blood, and when found at high concentrations are associated with obese children, and linked to be a good indicator of detecting NAFLD. Prashant (2 007) stated, â€Å"In NAFLD the ALT and AST levels are elevated to up to 5 times the upper normal limit (p.402). Therefore, studies have shown that 24-25% of children referred to obesity centers have elevated ALT levels (Kerkar, 2004, p.614). With the differentShow MoreRelatedObesity and Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Essay1787 Words   |  8 PagesThis disease was uncommon in the old days because it was unusual to accumulate enough fat to hurt livers. However, many people in the United States are now suffering from NAFLD and NASH. Before 1998, there was no case of NASH heard. In contrast, a statistics from a website called Partners In Liver Wellness provides an alarming information. The site says, â€Å"As a consequence of the on-going obesity epidemic in the U.S., fatty liver is a very common disorder with an estimated two thirds of obese adultsRead MoreNon-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Case Study1565 Words   |  7 PagesA study was conducted to determine , Non-alcoholic f atty liver disease and its histological scoring systems. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an increasingly common cause of chronic liver disease. The study says that the incidence of recurrent steatosis in patients transplanted for cryptogenic cirrhosis or NASH-cirrhosis ranges from 25%-100%, while NASH development is observed in 10%-37.5% of these cases without leading to early allograft failure. The ongoing discussions of the limitsRead MoreBayesian Evidence Synthesis And Decision Modeling For Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Essay746 Words   |  3 PagesBayesian Evidence Synthesis and Decision Modeling for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Summary The World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO) has recently declared NALFD as most common cause of liver disease. Obesity is an increasing problem not only in the UK but worldwide. An estimated 26% of the adults in the UK are considered to be obese 1, 2. Obesity induced metabolic syndrome may lead to NAFLD, which can progress to Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), and in turn to advanced fibrosis andRead MoreHigh Fructose Corn Syrup : Obesity, Diabetes, And Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease845 Words   |  4 PagesHealth concerns have been raised about high fructose corn syrup, which allege contribution to obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Critics of the extensive use of HFCS in food sweetening argue that the highly processed substance is more harmful to humans than regular sugar, contributing to weight gain by affecting normal appetite functions and that in some foods HFCS may be a source of mercury a known neurotoxin. Yeah, a NEUROT OXIN! And they are hidingRead MoreThe Function and Importance of the Liver in the Body793 Words   |  3 PagesHepar is the Greek term for liver, key organ which performs multiple functions in our body (Sowjanya, 2013). A foretime, the risk of liver intoxication is elevated due to some factors such as frequent use of pesticide agent, recurrent exposure to environmental toxins and regular use of chemotherapeutic agents. Meanwhile, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a pathological condition which occurs in individuals who do not consume large amount of alcohol ( 20g ethanol/d per day) with excessive accumulationRead MoreNonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease1686 Words   |  7 Pages Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is defined as accumulation of lipids, mainly triglycerides, due to causes other than viruses, alcohol, or genetics. The disease covers a wide spectrum of status, including simple steatosis, steatohepatitis, and cirrhosis, and is closely related to dyslipidemia, obesity, ins ulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.1 Prevalence of NAFLD has been increasing gradually because of changes in lifestyles such as insufficient physical activities and westernizedRead MoreAlcohol Consumption And Metabolic Syndrome1361 Words   |  6 PagesBoth alcohol consumption and metabolic syndrome are risk factors for development of fatty liver diseases with similar pathology which ultimately can result in development of liver cancer.3, 4, 24-273, 4, 23-26 Using a two-stage mouse model in which tumor initiation by DEN was followed by a 35% high fat diet, we have previously reported increased tumor incidence, suggestive of a diet-related promotional effect.11 Consistent with these findings, in the current study, we observed increased adenomaRead MoreNutrition : My First Career Choice761 Words   |  4 Pagesdifferent projects under supervision of my mentor. With insights about the complex molecular cascade of nutrient related pathways and knowing different techniques, I am working on understanding the role of gut microbiota in development of non alcoholic fatty liver disease in a mice model that does not accumulate fat in the body while on a high fat diet. As I gain experience in the realm of nutritional sciences, I also hope to be involved in improving the nutritional recommendations and nutrition relatedRead MoreThe Health Of The Youth Of Australia Face798 Words   |  4 Pagesphysical health problems’ (WHO 2000; Royal College of Physicians of London 2004) including short term issues such as ‘sleep apnoea, breathlessness on exertion, some orthopaedic and gastrointestinal problems, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease’ (NHMRC,2013). In the long term, ‘cardiovascular disease, diabetes, certain cancers, depression, arthritis and premature mortality’ are very common among obese children and adolescents (Guo et al. 2002; Reilly Wilson 2006). Obesity is a very serious health issueRead MoreEffects Of The Fast Food Industry On Canadians1263 Words   |  6 Pagesthat the amount of fast food availability impacted regional differences and predicted the frequency of mortality and heart disease hospitilizat ions in many communities in Ontario (Alter and Eny 176). In other words, the concentration of fast food availability impacted health outcomes in many communities. One of these outcomes is obesity. Obesity is essentially a chronic disease and is usually the result of ingesting high caloric foods without a corresponding expenditure of energy to balance this input