Fatty Liver Disease Treatment in Bangalore (NAFLD / NASH)

What is Fatty Liver Disease?

Fatty liver disease — medically called Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease or NAFLD — is a condition where excess fat accumulates in the liver cells of people who drink little or no alcohol. It is now one of the most common liver conditions in India, affecting an estimated 25–30% of the urban population, driven largely by obesity, diabetes, and an increasingly sedentary lifestyle.

NAFLD exists on a spectrum: simple fatty liver (steatosis) at one end, and the more dangerous NASH (Non-Alcoholic SteatoHepatitis) — where the fat causes liver inflammation and damage — at the other end. Left untreated, NASH can progress to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and eventually liver failure or liver cancer.

The encouraging news: when caught early, fatty liver disease is completely reversible with the right treatment and lifestyle changes.

Causes and Risk Factors

Symptoms of Fatty Liver

In its early stages, fatty liver disease is often completely silent — most patients have no symptoms at all. It is frequently detected incidentally on an ultrasound done for an unrelated reason. As the disease progresses, symptoms may include:

• Unexplained fatigue or tiredness
• Dull discomfort or heaviness in the upper right abdomen
• Mild abdominal bloating
• Elevated liver enzymes on blood tests (SGPT / SGOT)
• Enlarged liver (hepatomegaly) detected on ultrasound
• In advanced NASH: jaundice, fluid in the abdomen (ascites), swollen ankles, easy bruising

Diagnosis of Fatty Liver at Dhaara Hospital

Our comprehensive evaluation includes:

• Blood tests: Liver function tests (LFT), lipid profile, HbA1c, thyroid function, hepatitis B & C screening
• Ultrasound abdomen: Assesses the degree of fatty infiltration and liver size
• FibroScan (Transient Elastography): A non-invasive test that measures liver stiffness (fibrosis) — eliminating the need for a liver biopsy in most cases. Available at Dhaara Hospital.
• Liver biopsy: Reserved for cases where the degree of fibrosis and NASH cannot be determined non-invasively

Treatment at Dhaara Hospital

There is currently no specific FDA-approved drug to cure fatty liver disease, but significant improvement — and in many cases complete reversal — is achievable through a structured approach:

1. Weight Loss (Most Powerful Treatment)

Losing just 5–10% of body weight significantly reduces liver fat. Losing 10% or more can actually reverse NASH. At Dhaara Hospital, our gastroenterologist works with our dietitian to create a personalised, sustainable weight loss plan.

2. Dietary Modifications

• Reduce refined carbohydrates — white rice, maida, sugar, sweetened beverages
• Increase fibre intake — vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes
• Healthy fats — olive oil, nuts, avocado; avoid trans fats and saturated fats
• Avoid all forms of alcohol completely
• Mediterranean-style diet has strong evidence for NAFLD reversal

3. Regular Exercise

30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (brisk walking, cycling, swimming) at least 5 days per week reduces liver fat independent of weight loss.

4. Medical Management

• Control of diabetes with optimized medications (GLP-1 agonists and SGLT-2 inhibitors have shown liver benefits)
• Statin therapy for high cholesterol
• Vitamin E supplementation (for non-diabetic NASH)
• New emerging drugs — your doctor will advise based on current evidence

5. Regular Monitoring

Regular follow-up at 6-month intervals with liver function tests and periodic FibroScan to track disease progression or regression is essential.

Fatty Liver to Cirrhosis: The Progression

Understanding the stages helps motivate early treatment: