1 in 3 Americans have a fatty liver.
The most common symptoms I see in my office – Anxiety, depression, chronic pain (especially joint pain) and brain fog are all symptoms of fatty liver.
It’s missed easily because liver enzymes may be considered “normal” and even ultrasounds and liver biopsies may miss it.
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And you’re just because you’re not overweight doesn’t mean you’re in the clear.
What are the complications of a fatty liver?
- chronic kidney disease
- GERD
- sleep apnea
- cancer outside of the liver aka extra hepatic malignancies (it’s a common reason for one to develop cancer).
How do you know if you have it?
There are 3 formulas used to calculate if you have fatty liver – you can plug lab values into these and get an idea if you have fatty liver…
- Hepatic Steatosis Index
- Fatty Liver Index Score
- NAFLD Ridge Score (use if you’re not overweight)
Keep in mind, nothing replaces discussing these with your doctor however, you may catch this process early compared to traditional medical diagnoses that occur once liver enzymes are elevated.
What causes fatty liver?
- The number one cause is microbiome imbalance.
- insulin resistance
- genetics
- chronic infection in the liver causing WBC elevation
- methionine, choline or magnesium deficiency
- oxidative stress
- elevated hepatic iron
- deficiency in antioxidants
- hypothyroidism
- intestinal permeability and lipopolysaccharide production
- excess testosterone or low estrogen in women
- excess estrogen and low testosterone in men
In my opinion, fatty liver is a major cause for weight gain over 40.
So what do you do?
Research shows a very low carb diet for 2-4 weeks followed by a hypo caloric diet that’s close to Mediterranean and is low sugar/refined carb and low saturated fat thereafter can turn things around.
Pairing the diet with exercise and a blend of cardio and weight lifting is helpful.
The following supplements have been found to be beneficial based on research …
- Vitamin E 400-1200 IU a day with at least 200 mg twice a day of tocotrientols
- Choline – 2 grams a day
- NAC – 600 mg twice a day
- Omega 3 fatty acids – 1 gram a day
- Carnitine 1 gram twice a day
- Berberine – 500 mg three times a day
- Milk Thistle 500 mg twice a day
- Black seed oil – 1-2 grams a day
- Hesperidin – 1 gram a day
- Probiotic
I highly recommend doing a micronutrient test to know exactly what you need versus taking all those supplements.
The Cell Science Systems Micronutrient test is a great test for under $300.
It will not tell you if you need berberine, milk thistle, hesperidin or a probiotic, those are standard for this protocol.
Can you do the diet alone and see change?
Yes, however it may be beneficial to add in a few supplements to expedite the process.
Stick with your protocol for 6 months then re-test all your markers and assess your progress.
Life is too precious to not assess for something that could prevent cancer, improve your mood and cognitive function.
If your liver is no longer fatty at 6 months then you can let go of the supplements and continue with the Mediterranean style of diet and exercise protocol.
Cheers to a happy liver,
Dr. Jannine Krause
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