This is an automatically translated article.
The article was professionally consulted by Doctor Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.
Fatty liver disease in the elderly is a disease caused by excess accumulation of fatty structures in the liver. So what are the causes of fatty liver in the elderly?
1. What is fatty liver in the elderly?
In the human body, the liver is the largest organ that plays many different roles such as metabolizing substances, eliminating toxins, creating energy and necessary substances for the body, and assisting in the digestion of food. Fatty liver disease is a condition in which fat accumulates in the liver in excess of 5% of its weight. Fatty liver is divided into 2 types:
Non-alcoholic fatty liver Alcoholic fatty liver 1.1 Non-alcoholic fatty liver Includes 2 different types:
Fatty liver in the elderly is simple: understood as caused by Excess fat accumulates within the liver structure and is not accompanied by inflammation or liver cell damage. Simple fatty liver does not cause many complications due to impaired liver function. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: is a phenomenon of both accumulation of fat in the liver, inflammation and damage to liver cells. Because liver cells are damaged, it can cause fibrosis or scar tissue, dangerous complications if not treated promptly, leading to cirrhosis or liver cancer. SEE ALSO: Treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver: Lifestyle changes, diet
1.2 Alcoholic fatty liver Alcoholic fatty liver is a disease caused by the patient's excessive use of alcohol. When entering the body, the alcohol contained in alcohol will be metabolized by the liver and completely eliminated from the body. However, it is the process of eliminating alcohol that creates toxic substances for the liver cells themselves. These substances can adversely affect the function of liver cells, cause alcoholic hepatitis and weaken the mechanism of transporting fat out of the liver structure and lead to alcoholic fatty liver.
Alcoholic fatty liver is an early stage of alcohol-related liver diseases, with more severe consequences including alcoholic hepatitis, alcoholic cirrhosis or liver cancer.
SEE ALSO: What should people with fatty liver eat?
2. Causes of fatty liver in the elderly
Alcohol is the leading cause of fatty liver in the elderly. According to the normal cycle, the older you get, the weaker the functions in the body, gradually degenerate and the liver is no exception.
In the liver of the elderly, the number of cells decreases, the ability to regenerate cells is also poor, the interretinal endothelial system and connective tissue also lose the ability to regenerate and regenerate.
When liver function declines with age, the ability to detoxify gradually decreases as well as the resistance to weaken, then if there are favorable factors, liver cells will reduce their transport capacity and suffer from fat degeneration. causes fatty liver disease in the elderly. Those favorable factors include:
2.1 Obesity According to the studies to date, the patient's weight will be proportional to the amount of fat in the liver structure, that is, obese people are the easy subjects. have fatty liver. Statistics show that obese patients have a high risk of liver tissue damage from 61-94%.
2.2 Excessive weight loss Sudden and excessive weight loss will stimulate lipolysis in the body, leading to rapid fat accumulation, increased lipid peroxidation, damage to liver cells, consequent liver fatty .
2.3 Malnutrition Besides overweight and obesity, patients with excessive malnutrition are also prone to fatty liver. The mechanism is explained by the lack of nutrients will lead to the body not able to synthesize apolipoprotein (substances that transport fat out of the liver), resulting in fat, fat will accumulate in the structure. liver, leading to fatty liver.
2.4 Diabetes Elderly people are very prone to diabetes, besides favorable factors such as obesity and overweight. In which, fatty liver, obesity, diabetes have an inseparable relationship. Therefore, the cause of fatty liver in the elderly is closely related to diabetes mellitus.
3. Prevention of fatty liver disease in the elderly
In the elderly, a decline in liver function is inevitable. However, protecting the liver by different methods will somewhat limit the risk of fatty liver in the elderly. Measures to protect liver cells include:
3.1 Maintain an ideal weight According to research, losing 5 to 10% of weight will greatly help the health of the liver, improving the accumulation of excess fat. levels of fat in the structure and reduces damage and inflammation of liver cells.
However, losing weight too quickly can have a worse effect on liver function. Therefore, to best protect the liver, the elderly should try to maintain the most ideal weight for each certain age.
3.2 Regular physical activity A reasonable way to be physically active is to exercise daily, this is an indirect way that can prevent and treat fatty liver. Exercise also helps to lose weight, maintain weight, increase insulin sensitivity for diabetes and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
3.3 Food choices Limit the use of animal-based fats, saturated fats and replace them with oils of vegetable origin, this helps the body limit the absorption of too much fat, prevent prevent excess fat in the liver. Limit red meat Absolutely do not use stimulants such as alcohol, tobacco. Add foods that are rich in fiber and vitamins, such as fresh vegetables and fruits.
Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.
