According to a story from Health Canal, a team of researchers led by Dr. Mohammad Siddiqui of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) recently released a study which further highlights the relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular health. The researchers found that patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, the most severe and advanced form of fatty liver disease, often had lower capacity for exercise.
About Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a type of liver disease in which fat is deposited in the liver, independent of excessive alcohol consumption. This disease can progress rapidly. Risk factors include metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. There also appears to be some genetic component to the disease as well. This condition also increases the risk of other health problems and liver cancer. Men also seem to be at greater risk, getting the disease as almost twice the rate that women do. Symptoms of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis include jaundice, malaise, fatigue, and abdominal pain or discomfort. Without treatment, the liver can become scarred and the patient may need a liver transplant. However, the condition can also be managed with proper diet, the use of certain medications, and exercise. To learn more about nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, click here.
Liver Damage and Heart Failure
Dr. Siddiqui, who is an active hepatologist, says that many primary care doctors will not detect nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in its early stages; often, it does not cause symptoms until it reaches a more advanced stage such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. the research team found that signs of serious liver damage, such as fibrosis (scarring) and inflammation, were associated with reduced exercise capacity.
The study looked at 35 patients who most likely had fatty liver disease but had not yet been diagnosed with cirrhosis or heart failure. The activity of the patient’s heart was monitored as they exercised using a treadmill and biopsies were taken of their liver tissue. The more scarring present on the liver, the worse a patient’s exercise capacity. The findings highlight the fact that patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease are at a serious risk of heart failure if their disease continues to progress.
