Overview

Doctors recommend weight loss to treat nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Weight loss can reduce fat in the liver; inflammation; and fibrosis, or scarring.

If you are overweight or obese, losing weight by making healthy food choices, limiting portion sizes, and being physically active can improve NAFLD and NASH. Losing at least 3 to 5 percent of your body weight can reduce fat in the liver. You may need to lose up to 10 percent of your body weight to reduce liver inflammation.

Doctors recommend gradually losing 7 percent of your body weight or more over the course of 1 year. Rapid weight loss through fasting—eating and drinking nothing except water—can make NAFLD worse.

If you are overweight or obese, losing weight can improve NAFLD and NASH.

Medicines

No medicines have been approved to treat NAFLD and NASH. However, researchers are studying medicines that may improve these conditions.

Some studies suggest that pioglitazone (Actos), a medicine for type 2 diabetes, improves NASH in people who don’t have diabetes. Researchers need more information to find out whether this medicine is safe and effective for long-term use in people with NASH.
A study by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases’ NASH Clinical Research Network found that treatment with vitamin E or pioglitazone improved NASH in about half of the people treated. Doctors may recommend vitamin E for people who have NASH and don’t have diabetes or cirrhosis. Talk with your doctor before taking vitamin E or pioglitazone.
For safety reasons, talk with your doctor before using dietary supplements, such as vitamins, or any complementary or alternative medicines or medical practices. Some herbal remedies can actually damage your liver.

How can I prevent NAFLD and NASH?

You may be able to prevent NAFLD and NASH by eating a healthy diet, limiting your portion sizes, and maintaining a healthy weight.

How do doctors treat the complications of NASH?

If NASH leads to cirrhosis, doctors can treat the health problems caused by cirrhosis with medicines, operations, and other medical procedures. If cirrhosis leads to liver failure, you may need a liver transplant.

How do doctors treat the complications of NASH?
  1. The first line of defense against NAFLD and NASH is to eat a healthy diet
  2. Weight loss may be your best bet to treat fatty liver disease and NASH
  3. If you have cirrhosis due to NASH there are medicines and other steps your doctor can take to help you