ALD and NAFLD Treatment

Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD) and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
The liver plays a vital role in digestion, metabolism, and detoxification. However, when excess fat accumulates in liver cells, it can lead to inflammation and long-term liver damage. Two common conditions that cause this are Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD) and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD).
Zydus Hospitals provides advanced evaluation and evidence-based fatty liver disease treatment for both conditions, following globally recognized treatment guidelines and a multidisciplinary care approach.

Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD)
Alcoholic Liver Disease results from long-term excessive alcohol consumption. The liver metabolizes alcohol, but sustained exposure causes fat accumulation, inflammation, and scarring (fibrosis). Over time, this can progress to cirrhosis or liver failure.
Symptoms of Alcoholic Liver Disease

The first step in alcoholic liver disease treatment, or ALD treatment, is complete cessation of alcohol intake. Early stages are often reversible with timely management and healthy lifestyle changes.
Medical management focuses on reducing inflammation and preventing progression. For advanced cases, where cirrhosis or liver failure occurs, a liver transplant may be considered.
Treatment plans follow international alcoholic fatty liver disease treatment guidelines, ensuring a patient-specific and evidence-based approach.

Fatty Liver Disease
Fatty liver (Hepatic Steatosis) occurs when fat builds up in the liver cells. Today, 1 in 3 Indians has fatty liver, often without symptoms. There are two main types: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Common causes include:

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) refers to the buildup of excess fat in the liver of individuals who consume little or no alcohol. It is commonly associated with obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome.
Symptoms of NAFLD

If left untreated, NAFLD can progress to Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, and cirrhosis.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Treatment
At Zydus Hospitals, NAFLD treatment focuses on addressing underlying causes and preventing disease progression.
Treatment Approach Includes:

Lifestyle Modifications: A structured fatty liver treatment plan includes weight loss and diet modifications.
The most effective treatment is weight reduction where 7%–10% weight loss can improve fibrosis, 5%–7% weight loss can improve NASH and <5% weight loss leads to reduction of fat build-up.
Exercise and outdoor activities: Incorporating a 30-45 minute walk/cycling/jogging session a day, doing resistance training up to 3 times a week or high-intensity workouts for certain patients can do wonders. However, it is crucial to ask your doctor for an exercise plan which is best suited for you.
Introducing changes in diet like avoiding refined flour, bakery products, sweet, restricting sugary drinks, having high fibre-foods, increasing vegetables and lean proteins, having foods with low carbs and low sugar, and avoiding alcohol completely can have positive changes in their liver conditions. Patients are provided nutrition plans as per non-alcoholic fatty liver disease treatment guidelines, emphasizing gradual, sustainable lifestyle improvement.
Medical Management: Where needed, physicians prescribe non-alcoholic fatty liver disease treatment medicine to control diabetes, cholesterol, or metabolic risk factors.

This holistic approach helps in reversing fat buildup and restoring normal liver function.
Monitoring one’s condition and following-up with the hepatologist is crucial.

Comprehensive Liver Disease Treatment and Care
Both ALD and NAFLD require consistent medical supervision and a personalized liver disease treatment plan. Early intervention and adherence to fatty liver disease treatments can significantly improve liver health and prevent complications.
In severe cases where liver scarring is advanced, a transplant evaluation may be recommended as per global hepatology standards.
Fibroscan and PDFF MRI can detect changes in the liver way before symptoms start showing up in patients. A collaborative approach across our liver specialists, endocrinologists and dieticians help devise personalised plans for patients and help in comprehensive monitoring for long-term liver health.