Most of the fatty liver that we have encountered recently is not related to alcohol, but to nutritional mistakes. This problem, which is defined as “non-alcoholic fatty liver disease”, does not give any symptoms in most patients. “Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease” is seen in approximately 75% of obese people. Some patients may complain of fatigue, weakness, discomfort in the upper right part of the abdomen. On examination, there is a small or moderate amount of liver size.
Enzymes that we call “ALT, AST”, which are blood markers of liver disease, can increase up to 2-4 times the normal value. Obesity, a one-way diet rich in carbohydrates, diabetes mellitus (diabetes) are the leading factors in the formation of “non-alcoholic fatty liver disease”. But recently, the role of intestinal bacteria, which we call the intestinal microbiota, has a great role in the formation of fatty liver disease. The intestinal epithelium normally does not pass the toxic substances of harmful microbes.
Friendly bacteria, which we call probiotics, play a role in this, and probiotics act as a seal by providing intestinal sealing. The slightest deterioration or weakening of the flora causes these pests in the intestine to enter the blood circulation and weaken the immune system. We call this leaky gut syndrome. Leaky gut syndrome causes many health problems, especially metabolic diseases such as diabetes, fatty liver, obesity.
If our intestines are weak in terms of probiotics (friendly bacteria), these toxins enter the body faster and more. The liver reacts to these toxins, first causing fat and then damage to the liver cells. First, fatty liver occurs in the liver cells, we call it fatty liver. Then, as an indicator of damage to liver cells, an increase in liver enzymes, which we call “ALT, AST”, occurs, which is called inflammatory fatty liver. After this stage, there is a clinical process that can go up to liver cirrhosis. Today, among the causes of fatty liver disease, other than alcohol, the first nutritional errors come.
Fatty liver is generally seen in people who are overweight, belly, wide waist circumference, high blood sugar (especially postprandial sugar), unbalanced blood lipids, especially high triglyceride levels.
In people with elevated liver enzymes, causes other than inflammatory fatty liver should be investigated (viral hepatitis, toxic hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, hemochromatosis, wilson’s disease, celiac disease). Treatments related to probiotics in the treatment of fatty liver disease have been increasing rapidly in the literature in recent years. For the treatment of fatty liver, you should definitely consult a gastroenterologist.
