There is a silent condition that stalks the health of as many as 1 in 5 people across the UK: fatty liver disease. It’s a condition that can have a wide range of impacts upon your health and, over time, can develop into much more serious conditions. If you’re concerned about fatty liver disease, and want to know more about the supplements that can potentially help, keep on reading…

The unfortunate rise of fatty liver disease

It’s an unarguable point that fatty liver disease is on the rise across the UK. In fact, it’s an issue that isn’t just occurring here in the UK - it’s now one of the most common chronic liver conditions reported worldwide¹. 

This has serious consequences: not merely for the individuals afflicted with the condition, but for healthcare systems more generally as it can result in an array of comorbidities. 

But, we appreciate that you may be reading this having just discovered that you have (or are at risk of developing) fatty liver disease yourself. 

What exactly is it? And, what consequences can it have on your health? 

Let’s take a look. 

Firstly, fatty liver disease is a term that covers two distinct types of disease: 

• MASLD: metabolic-associated fatty liver disease is the form of fatty liver disease that results in fat build-up in the liver as a result of metabolic issues such as obesity, insulin resistance and high blood pressure. Note: prior to 2023, MASLD was known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The change was made to better reflect the underlying factors of MASLD (however, we use these terms interchangeably throughout this article).
  

• AFLD: alcoholic-related fatty liver disease is fat accumulation within the liver that is primarily caused by regular heavy alcohol intake. 

Whilst the outcome is essentially the same: the accumulation of fat within the liver, the distinction between the two types of fatty liver disease is important as the resulting condition management is distinctly different. 

So, how widespread are the two forms of fatty liver disease? Estimates suggest that around 1 in 3 people in the UK have at least an early-stage form of fatty liver disease. Meanwhile, around 1 in 5 people are estimated to have clinically-meaningful fatty liver (e.g. they are at a stage whereby the liver fat accumulation is causing hepatic damage)². 

Further to the above stats, health bodies and researchers have highlighted that this may only be ‘the tip of the iceberg’. Charities such as the British Liver Trust³ suggest that there are large swathes of the population that are living with fatty liver disease without knowing it (e.g. they haven’t been diagnosed). 

This is an important finding, as undetected, untreated, fatty liver disease can result in progressive worsening of your liver health. Fat accumulation in the liver can develop into inflammation, fibrosis - and, over a long enough timeline - into full-blown cirrhosis or liver cancer. As we’ll explore later in this article, these outcomes - particularly cirrhosis and liver cancer - can have a deleterious impact upon your health⁴. 

What are the potential consequences of fatty liver disease? 

The development of fatty liver disease is typically symptomless in its early stages. However, as this condition progresses (particularly if it is unchecked and untreated), it can result in myriad serious health conditions.

These conditions tend to develop progressively, as more and more accumulates in the liver. Below, we’ve detailed how fatty liver disease can develop over time: 

• From initial steatosis (fat accumulation), the next stage is typically inflammation - which is dubbed non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or metabolic-dysfunction associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Studies suggest that around 20% of people with fatty liver disease have NASH⁵.
  

• Should inflammation persist over time (e.g. due to lifestyle factors/persistent excessive alcohol intake), then fibrosis may develop. This is effectively the liver becoming scarred, which in turn inhibits liver function.
  

• Over a longer time line, fibrosis can then develop into advanced fibrosis and eventually cirrhosis - a form of irreversible scarring that significantly impairs liver function.

Once cirrhosis has occurred, individuals are subject to a plethora of adverse health outcomes. These include: 

• Increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer). 

• Ascites (accumulation of fluid within the abdomen). 

• Variceal bleeding (dilated veins in the oesophagus that can hemorrhage). 

• Hepatic encephalopathy (cognitive confusion and slow down). 

• Jaundice and coagulopathy (poor blood clotting). 

• Increased infection risk and hepatorenal syndrome (secondary kidney injury). 

Beyond hepatic (e.g. liver) harms, fatty liver disease can contribute to other comorbidities including cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease. 

It’s clear then, that you should avoid developing fatty liver disease. As you’ll see further in this article, there are clear lifestyle and dietary changes that you can make to achieve this end.

How to check if you have fatty liver disease

That all sounds quite concerning doesn’t it? We won’t blame you if you start palpating the right hand side of your torso just below your rib cage (where the liver is located). 

However, if you’re really concerned as to whether you may have fatty liver disease then there are a number of ways you can check if you have this condition. 

The key point here is that detection of fatty liver very much comes down to taking a test, as opposed to identifying symptoms. This is due to fatty liver being essentially a ‘symptomless’ condition - at least in the early stages. 

With this in mind, ‘detecting’ fatty liver can be achieved by undergoing one (or more) of the following tests: 

Blood tests

Perhaps the simplest, and most widespread diagnostic pathway for suspected fatty liver disease is blood tests. 

In terms of blood tests, there are three key liver blood tests that can be performed: 

• ALT: the alanine transaminase blood test measures the blood serum levels of a particular enzyme that is primarily found in the liver (that enzyme being ALT). A healthy reading will show low levels of ALT in your blood; an abnormal reading will show high levels of ALT, as the liver will accelerate production of ALT when damaged⁶.
  

• AST: the aspartate aminotransferase blood test - as the name indicates - tests for elevated levels of AST in your blood. Elevated levels of AST occur when liver cells are injured or inflamed, which results in AST being released into your bloodstream⁷.
  

• GGT: testing for elevated levels of gamma glutamyl transferase, the GGT test is considered to be a particularly sensitive test of hepatobiliary disease (e.g. damage to the liver and bile duct)⁸. 

Want to get tested? Then speak to the SN Hub today. Our dedicated clinic facility offers a wide range of blood tests, including six distinct liver blood tests. 

Ultrasound

If blood tests are inconclusive (or if your doctor wants a secondary test carried out), then an ultrasound will often be used as a ‘first-line’ imaging test to look for liver fat. 

Ultrasounds are carried out in the abdominal region and are a popular testing pathway as they are cheap and widely available (many UK GP surgeries have on-site ultrasound machines). 

However, whilst ultrasounds can detect moderate-to-severe steatosis (the accumulation of excess fat in the liver - specifically triglycerides), they can sometimes miss mild, early-stage liver fat build up⁹.

It’s for this reason that an ultrasound will be combined with blood tests to ensure that early disease indicators are not missed. 

Fibroscan

Should a more detailed diagnosis be required, then you may undergo a Fibroscan. This is a test which physically resembles an ultrasound (it is carried out in a very similar way), but measures very different things. 

In short, a Fibroscan will measure liver stiffness (it measures this in a unit called kPa - which is a marker of fibrosis), and also provide a CAP score (this latter score refers to how ‘fatty’ your liver is)¹⁰. 

Aside from detecting liver fibrosis (stiffness) and liver fat, a Fibroscan can also detect other liver-related conditions, including: 

• Choleastatic disease. 

• Hepatitis B. 

• Hepatitis C. 

• Haemochromatosis. 

Guide: read more about Fibroscans and what they involve in our guide, What Is a Fibroscan? & Why You Should Get One.

 

 

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If you’re concerned about your liver health then Supplement Needs - at SN Hub - offers Fibroscans conducted by trained diagnostic professionals.

The scan lasts around 30 minutes and costs only £250. 

Book your Fibroscan now.

 

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Biopsy

A liver biopsy may be the ‘gold-standard’ in terms of diagnosing fatty liver disease. However, a biopsy is a highly-invasive procedure and will only be carried out should your doctor think that your liver is in particularly poor health/at risk of failing. 

In fact, according to clinical practice guidelines¹¹, most patients with fatty liver disease should never need a full liver biopsy.

Can you prevent fatty liver disease? 

Given the potential long-term consequences of developing fatty liver disease it’s understandable that you won’t want to develop it. 

Luckily, there are some clear lifestyle and diet changes that you can make that will significantly reduce your chances of developing fatty liver disease. 

Let’s take a look at what those changes are and what they entail. 

Weight loss

This is arguably the biggest impact change you can make in relation to fatty liver disease. According to research, if you are able to lose between 7 and 10% of your body weight, this can translate into meaningful improvements in liver enzymes, liver fat levels and histological inflammation and fibrosis¹². 

It’s important to note that you shouldn’t lose this weight too quickly, as this itself can cause issues with your liver. Instead, aim for a weight loss regime of between 0.5kg to 1kg per week (1 to 2lb)¹³. 

Exercise more

Both aerobic and resistance exercise can have a meaningful impact on the prevention of fatty liver.

In terms of exercise levels, you should aim for: 

• Over 2.5 hours of moderate aerobic activity per week¹⁴.

• At least two sessions of resistance training per week¹⁵.

Interestingly, the evidence base suggests that resistance training and aerobic exercise combined can reduce liver fat independently of weight loss. In other words, exercise can help prevent fatty liver, even when you’re struggling to shed weight. 

Cut down on alcohol

Ideally, it’s best if you abstain from alcohol completely. However, if it’s an indulgence you can’t do without, then it’s recommended that you keep your weekly consumption within the recommended guidelines. These guidelines suggest you should drink no more than 14 units per week¹⁶. 

Eat liver-supporting foods

Another way you can prevent the development of fatty liver is to eat plenty of liver-supporting foods. 

More particularly, you should aim to eat plenty of foods that contain choline. Choline is an essential compound for exporting fat from the liver as it can help to modulate the gene expression in many of the pathways involved in liver function and dysfunction¹⁷.

Choline-rich foods include: 

• Eggs. 

• Liver. 

• Soy. 

• Certain legumes. 

In short, if you can lose weight, stay active, cut down on alcohol, and eat supportive foodstuffs, you can make great strides in ensuring you don’t develop fatty liver. 

What supplements can help with fatty liver? 

Naturally, in addition to the above lifestyle changes, there are several supplements that have a solid-evidence base in relation to preventing the development of fatty liver. Below, we’ll take you through each supplement and the way in which they can ward off fatty liver disease. 

TUDCA

As we’ve written about previously, TUDCA is a taurine-conjugated bile acid that acts on several pathways relevant to liver health. It can improve bile flow, reduce endoplasmic-reticulum (ER) stress inside hepatocytes, and even support gut barrier function and the microbiome - all of which can protect liver health¹⁸. 

This isn’t mere supposition, either. Multiple studies show that TUDCA reduces hepatic steatosis, lowers inflammation, and improves intestinal barrier integrity¹⁹. 

In short, if you want to protect yourself from fatty liver disease, you should certainly consider adding TUDCA to your supplementation regime. 

Supplement Needs TUDCA 

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Supplement Needs Omega 3 High Strength provides 500mg of EPA and 250mg of DHA per 1 capsule serving. 

The reason Supplement Needs Omega 3 High Strength should be at the top of your shopping list is because the marine-derived long-chain Omega-3s that it contains have been the most consistently studied fats in fatty-liver research. In fact, systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials show that Omega-3 supplementation can reduce liver fat and improve triglycerides and some liver-enzyme markers in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease²¹.

And, of course, you benefit from all the other characteristics of a Supplement Needs product - formulation by Dr. Dean St. Mart PhD, GMP-manufactured here in the UK, transparent ingredients and more.

Glutathione

Glutathione is another supplement you should have on your ‘fatty liver shopping list’. That’s because it’s the body’s master antioxidant and thus a logical target in fatty liver disease - because oxidative stress contributes to the progression of the disease. 

Whilst the evidence base is still developing for Glutathione in relation to fatty liver - some studies suggest a strong link between supplementation and improved liver health. For example, one study found that daily supplementation of Glutathione for four months resulted in significantly reduced levels of ALT. In addition, triglycerides, non-esterified fatty acids, and ferritin levels also decreased²².

Supplement Needs Liposomal Glutathione