Nonalcoholic fatty liver is defined...

Nonalcoholic fatty liver is defined as hepatic steatosis in the absence of alcohol use or another chronic liver disease. It is single in kind of the most common liver diseases, affecting approximately 15 million somebodys in the United States. human frames who weigh more than 140 percent of their ideal corpse weight are at increased risk of developing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In addition, ones with diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia are more likely to have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Because of these associations, weight reduction was assumed to be an effective treatment for overweight patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.Wang and colleagues evaluated the literature to assess the evidence supporting the efficacy of weight reduction in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

The authors performed an extensive search for relevant studies in consequence of computerized databases (including the Cochrane Hepato-Biliary assemblage Controlled Trials Register, the Cochrane Controll Trials Register, MEDLINE, and EMBASE). They also course of lifeed a manual search of abstracts from various scientific meetings. Included were studies that reported histology of the liver, serum transaminase of the same heights or radiologic imaging of the liver in obese patients who forfeited weight. Various weight reduction modes included diet, exercise, drug therapy, surgical interventions, or any combination. Studies were exclud if the weight-loss surgical intervention was jejunoileal or small-bowel bypass procedures

Of the 517 potentially relevant trials identified, 15 met the inclusion criteria. single was a randomized controlled trial, brace were non-randomized controlled trials, nine were case series, single in kind was a retrospective review, and brace were case reports. Nine of the studies had 25 or fewer participants, while three studies included more than 50 participants. Twelve studies used behavior, dietary, or pharmacotherapeutic interventions, while three studies used surgical intervention. All of the studies reported overall improvements in issue measures such as serum transaminase flushs radiologic markers, or hepatic histology. In single study, liver histology worsened in patients who dissipated more than 1.6 kg (3 lb 8 oz) by week. In one of the surgical interventions, there was a double increase in the number of patients who lay opened lobular hepatitis after surgery.

The authors judge that even though weight reduction is considered an effective therapy for nonalcoholic fatty liver, not many data support or refute this recommendation. They add that there is a ne for randomized controll trials to determine whether weight reduction in these patients is beneficial. This fact is important because nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is an emerging public health problem

Wang RT et al. Is weight reduction an effective therapy for nonalcoholic fatty liver? A systematic review. Am J M November 2003;115:554-9

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