The fatty liver , medically known as hepatic steatosis , is an alteration initially benign possessing various symptoms and although most cases are usually mild type, it is important to keep control of it under the supervision of a professional, making it It is essential to recognize the symptoms at the beginning of the pathology to avoid complications.
This disease, in which the liver is directly affected, has as its main characteristic the accumulation of triglycerides and fatty acids in liver cells. It is for this reason that fatty liver can cause several symptoms and, many times, they are difficult to identify and relate to this pathology because they become very frequent in many people for other medical reasons.
Being part of the digestive system, it is normal that this alteration in the liver is related to other disorders in that system and, therefore, many wonder: does fatty liver cause diarrhea? In this FastlyHealarticle, we are going to know the answer to this question.
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Fatty liver: causes
The development of fatty liver disease is due to a malfunction of the liver that prevents the elimination of the fat that is normally deposited in it, causing fatty acids and triglycerides to accumulate in high amounts in the cells of said organ and that , at an advanced degree, can result in various complications.
Previously, it was considered that only people who constantly and excessively consumed alcoholic beverages developed this inability of the liver to dispose of free fat, but today it is known that most cases of this disease are not related to alcoholic patients and that there are other factors that may be causing or increasing the risk of presenting it, so in these circumstances nonalcoholic hepatic steatosis is diagnosed.
In addition to excessive alcohol consumption , among the most frequent causes of fatty liver are overweight and obesity , especially because these people base their diet on a diet rich in fats and simple carbohydrates, so the liver cannot eliminate efficiently this excess. Therefore, there may be a direct relationship that the greater the overweight, the higher the risk of suffering the alteration in the liver.
Likewise, rapid weight loss or malnutrition can be one of the risk factors for fatty liver, although it can also be due to:
- High cholesterol .
- Endocrine disorders.
- Some diseases such as diabetes mellitus or chronic hepatitis C.
- Consumption of certain drugs.
- Being exposed to toxic substances.
Does fatty liver cause diarrhea?
It should be noted that many patients with fatty liver may have no symptoms and discover the disorder for other medical reasons. However, if it manifests, it is characterized by the presence of pain located in the upper right area of the abdomen , at the same time that you may feel tired or chronic fatigue, frequent stomach heaviness, vomiting, loss of appetite, general discomfort, begin to lose weight for no apparent reason and some patients suffer from jaundice , an alteration in which the skin and mucous membranes are yellowish due to the increase in bilirubin.
On the other hand, fatty liver sometimes causes diarrhea , which may appear greasy and pale in color. This abnormal defecation can be present when the functions of the liver are being greatly altered by the accumulation of fats, for example, it could affect the production of bile , a substance that helps the breakdown of food and, especially, fats, for example what a low level of the same does not allow the adequate absorption of the nutrients and causes episodes of diarrhea.
However, making stools watery or loose could also be a side effect of some recommended fatty liver medications , such as metformin . For this reason, it is important to detect from what day the consistency of the stool is altered and if it coincides with the intake of the drug. When stopped, the diarrhea is usually controlled within the next 48 hours.
Fatty liver: medical treatment and care
This alteration in the liver is considered a condition that progresses slowly and is easy to control, since its treatment is usually based on the prevention of the cause. Generally, to cure fatty liver, it is enough to follow a balanced diet, exercise and gradually lose weight if you have extra kilos.
For a balanced diet, it is important to go to a nutritionist to indicate the correct diet for fatty liver, which eliminates the intake of foods rich in sugars and saturated fats, whole dairy products, fried foods, alcoholic beverages and it is recommended the consumption of vegetable fats that are healthier and are found in nuts, olive oil, olives, among others. In the following article, we show what the fatty liver diet should look like .
The physical activity , meanwhile, helps burn excess fat from the body and prevent it from accumulating in the liver. The most advisable thing is to have the guidance of a professional to choose the best routine, especially if you had a sedentary life, with cardiovascular exercises being the most indicated for this condition.
On the other hand, if the clinical picture of hepatic steatosis is more serious, the doctor may prescribe the administration of certain drugs that help control the disease and the symptoms it produces. It is essential to follow the instructions of the specialist and not alter the dose or duration of treatment without prior authorization, as it could be counterproductive.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Does fatty liver cause diarrhea? , we recommend that you enter our Digestive System category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.