BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuNonalcoholic fatty liver diseaseFatty liver disease; Steatotic liver disease; Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; NASH; MASH; Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitisNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the buildup of fat in the liver that is not caused by drinking too much alcohol. People who have it do not have a history of heavy drinking. NAFLD is usually but not always related to being overweight.For many people, NAFLD causes no symptoms or problems. A more severe form of the disease is called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH can cause cirrhosis and liver failure. It can also cause liver cancer.CirrhosisCirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver cancerHepatocellular carcinoma is cancer that starts in the liver.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes NAFLD is the result of deposits of fat in the liver that are more than normal. Things that may put you at risk include any of the following:Being overweight or obese. The more overweight you are, the higher the risk. ObeseObesity means weighing more than what is healthy for a given height. Obesity is a serious, chronic disease. It can lead to other health problems, i...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Prediabetes (insulin resistance). PrediabetesPrediabetes occurs when the level of sugar (glucose) in your blood is too high, but not high enough to be called diabetes. If you have prediabetes, ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetesType 2 diabetes is a lifelong (chronic) disease in which there is a high level of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Type 2 diabetes is the most common f...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article High cholesterol. High cholesterolCholesterol is a fat (also called a lipid) that your body needs to work properly. Too much bad cholesterol in your blood can increase your chance of...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article High triglycerides. High blood pressure. Other risk factors may include:Rapid weight loss and poor diet Gastric bypass surgery Gastric bypass surgeryGastric bypass is surgery that helps you lose weight by changing how your stomach and small intestine handle the food you eat. After the surgery, you...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Bowel disease Certain medicines, such as calcium channel blockers and some cancer medicines Lack of exerciseNAFLD also occurs in people who have no known risk factors. Symptoms People with NAFLD often have no symptoms. When symptoms occur, the most common include:Fatigue Pain in the upper right abdomen In people with NASH who have liver damage (cirrhosis), symptoms may include:Liver damageCirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Weakness Loss of appetite Nausea Yellow skin and eyes (jaundice) JaundiceJaundice is a yellow color of the skin, mucus membranes, or eyes. The yellow coloring comes from bilirubin, a byproduct of old red blood cells. Jau...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Itching Fluid buildup and swelling in the legs and abdomen Mental confusion Mental confusionConfusion is the inability to think as clearly or quickly as you normally do. You may feel disoriented and have difficulty paying attention, remembe...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article GI bleeding Exams and Tests NAFLD is often found during routine blood tests that are used to see how well the liver is working.Routine blood testsLiver function tests are common tests that are used to see how well the liver is working. Tests include:AlbuminAlpha-1 antitrypsinAlkaline phosphata...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article You may have the following tests to measure liver function:Complete blood count Complete blood countA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Prothrombin time Prothrombin timeProthrombin time (PT) is a blood test that measures the time it takes for the liquid portion (plasma) of your blood to clot. It measures the functio...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood albumin level Blood albumin levelAlbumin is a protein made by the liver. A serum albumin test measures the amount of this protein in the clear liquid portion of the blood. Albumin c...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Serum transaminases Blood tests that measure liver fibrosisYour health care provider may order certain imaging tests, including:Ultrasound to confirm a diagnosis of NAFLD UltrasoundAbdominal ultrasound is a type of imaging test. It is used to look at organs in the abdomen, including the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and kidneys...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MRI and CT scan MRIAn abdominal magnetic resonance imaging scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves. The waves create pictures of the inside ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CT scanAn abdominal CT scan is an imaging test that uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the belly area. CT stands for computed tomography....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Fibroscan (elastography)A liver biopsy is rarely needed to confirm a diagnosis of NASH, the more severe form of NAFLD.Liver biopsyA liver biopsy is a test that takes a sample of tissue from the liver for examination.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment The treatment of NASH includes exercise, weight loss, lipid and glucose control. If you have evidence of scarring in the liver on the above testing, you may benefit from resmetirom (Rezdiffra), a recently approved drug to treat NASH. Resmetirom is a thyroid hormone receptor beta agonist, used in conjunction with diet and exercise, for the treatment of adults with noncirrhotic NASH with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis (consistent with stages F2 to F3 fibrosis).Your provider will help you understand your condition and the healthy choices that can help you take care of your liver. These may include:Losing weight if you are overweight. Eating a healthy diet that is low in salt. Not drinking alcohol. Staying physically active. Managing health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. DiabetesDiabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Getting vaccinated for diseases such as hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Hepatitis AHepatitis A is inflammation (irritation and swelling) of the liver from the hepatitis A virus.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hepatitis BHepatitis B is irritation and swelling (inflammation) of the liver due to infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Other types of viral hepatitis ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Lowering your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Taking medicines as directed. Talk to your provider about all medicines you take, including herbs and supplements and over-the-counter medicines. Treatment with with resmetirom, a recently approved drug for the treatment of NASH.Losing weight and managing diabetes can slow or sometimes reverse the deposit of fat in the liver. Outlook (Prognosis) Many people with NAFLD have no health problems and do not go on to develop NASH. Losing weight and making healthy lifestyle choices can help prevent more serious problems. It is unclear why some people develop NASH. NASH can lead to cirrhosis. When to Contact a Medical Professional Most people with NAFLD do not know they have it. See your provider if you begin to have unusual symptoms such as fatigue or abdominal pain. Prevention To help prevent NAFLD:Maintain a healthy weight. Eat a healthy diet. Exercise regularly. Limit alcohol consumption. Use medicines properly.Open ReferencesReferencesChalasani NP, Maher J. Alcoholic and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 138.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Eating, diet, and nutrition for NAFLD and NASH. www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/nafld-nash/eating-diet-nutrition. Updated April 2021. Accessed May 23, 2025.Rinella ME, Neuschwander-Tetri BA, Siddiqui MS, et al. AASLD Practice Guidance on the clinical assessment and management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Hepatology. 2023;77(5):1797-1835. PMID: 36727674 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36727674/.Torres DM, Harrison SA. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 87.AllVideoImagesTogLiver - illustration The liver serves a wide variety of body functions, including detoxifying blood and producing bile that aids in digestion.LiverillustrationLiver - illustration The liver serves a wide variety of body functions, including detoxifying blood and producing bile that aids in digestion.LiverillustrationA Closer Look Cirrhosis(Alt. Medicine)Cirrhosis - InDepth(In-Depth)Hepatitis - InDepth(In-Depth)Diabetes - type 2 - InDepth(In-Depth)Betaine(Alt. Medicine)Diabetes - type 1 - InDepth(In-Depth)Weight control and diet - InDepth(In-Depth)Smoking - InDepth(In-Depth)Related Information Review Date: 4/21/2025 Reviewed By: Todd Eisner, MD, Private practice specializing in Gastroenterology in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, Florida at Gastroenterology Consultants of Boca Raton. Affiliate Assistant Professor, Florida Atlantic University School of Medicine. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. 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Nonalcoholic fatty liver diseaseFatty liver disease; Steatotic liver disease; Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; NASH; MASH; Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitisNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the buildup of fat in the liver that is not caused by drinking too much alcohol. People who have it do not have a history of heavy drinking. NAFLD is usually but not always related to being overweight.For many people, NAFLD causes no symptoms or problems. A more severe form of the disease is called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH can cause cirrhosis and liver failure. It can also cause liver cancer.CirrhosisCirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver cancerHepatocellular carcinoma is cancer that starts in the liver.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes NAFLD is the result of deposits of fat in the liver that are more than normal. Things that may put you at risk include any of the following:Being overweight or obese. The more overweight you are, the higher the risk. ObeseObesity means weighing more than what is healthy for a given height. Obesity is a serious, chronic disease. It can lead to other health problems, i...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Prediabetes (insulin resistance). PrediabetesPrediabetes occurs when the level of sugar (glucose) in your blood is too high, but not high enough to be called diabetes. If you have prediabetes, ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetesType 2 diabetes is a lifelong (chronic) disease in which there is a high level of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Type 2 diabetes is the most common f...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article High cholesterol. High cholesterolCholesterol is a fat (also called a lipid) that your body needs to work properly. Too much bad cholesterol in your blood can increase your chance of...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article High triglycerides. High blood pressure. Other risk factors may include:Rapid weight loss and poor diet Gastric bypass surgery Gastric bypass surgeryGastric bypass is surgery that helps you lose weight by changing how your stomach and small intestine handle the food you eat. After the surgery, you...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Bowel disease Certain medicines, such as calcium channel blockers and some cancer medicines Lack of exerciseNAFLD also occurs in people who have no known risk factors. Symptoms People with NAFLD often have no symptoms. When symptoms occur, the most common include:Fatigue Pain in the upper right abdomen In people with NASH who have liver damage (cirrhosis), symptoms may include:Liver damageCirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Weakness Loss of appetite Nausea Yellow skin and eyes (jaundice) JaundiceJaundice is a yellow color of the skin, mucus membranes, or eyes. The yellow coloring comes from bilirubin, a byproduct of old red blood cells. Jau...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Itching Fluid buildup and swelling in the legs and abdomen Mental confusion Mental confusionConfusion is the inability to think as clearly or quickly as you normally do. You may feel disoriented and have difficulty paying attention, remembe...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article GI bleeding Exams and Tests NAFLD is often found during routine blood tests that are used to see how well the liver is working.Routine blood testsLiver function tests are common tests that are used to see how well the liver is working. Tests include:AlbuminAlpha-1 antitrypsinAlkaline phosphata...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article You may have the following tests to measure liver function:Complete blood count Complete blood countA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Prothrombin time Prothrombin timeProthrombin time (PT) is a blood test that measures the time it takes for the liquid portion (plasma) of your blood to clot. It measures the functio...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood albumin level Blood albumin levelAlbumin is a protein made by the liver. A serum albumin test measures the amount of this protein in the clear liquid portion of the blood. Albumin c...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Serum transaminases Blood tests that measure liver fibrosisYour health care provider may order certain imaging tests, including:Ultrasound to confirm a diagnosis of NAFLD UltrasoundAbdominal ultrasound is a type of imaging test. It is used to look at organs in the abdomen, including the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and kidneys...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MRI and CT scan MRIAn abdominal magnetic resonance imaging scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves. The waves create pictures of the inside ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CT scanAn abdominal CT scan is an imaging test that uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the belly area. CT stands for computed tomography....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Fibroscan (elastography)A liver biopsy is rarely needed to confirm a diagnosis of NASH, the more severe form of NAFLD.Liver biopsyA liver biopsy is a test that takes a sample of tissue from the liver for examination.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment The treatment of NASH includes exercise, weight loss, lipid and glucose control. If you have evidence of scarring in the liver on the above testing, you may benefit from resmetirom (Rezdiffra), a recently approved drug to treat NASH. Resmetirom is a thyroid hormone receptor beta agonist, used in conjunction with diet and exercise, for the treatment of adults with noncirrhotic NASH with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis (consistent with stages F2 to F3 fibrosis).Your provider will help you understand your condition and the healthy choices that can help you take care of your liver. These may include:Losing weight if you are overweight. Eating a healthy diet that is low in salt. Not drinking alcohol. Staying physically active. Managing health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. DiabetesDiabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Getting vaccinated for diseases such as hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Hepatitis AHepatitis A is inflammation (irritation and swelling) of the liver from the hepatitis A virus.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hepatitis BHepatitis B is irritation and swelling (inflammation) of the liver due to infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Other types of viral hepatitis ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Lowering your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Taking medicines as directed. Talk to your provider about all medicines you take, including herbs and supplements and over-the-counter medicines. Treatment with with resmetirom, a recently approved drug for the treatment of NASH.Losing weight and managing diabetes can slow or sometimes reverse the deposit of fat in the liver. Outlook (Prognosis) Many people with NAFLD have no health problems and do not go on to develop NASH. Losing weight and making healthy lifestyle choices can help prevent more serious problems. It is unclear why some people develop NASH. NASH can lead to cirrhosis. When to Contact a Medical Professional Most people with NAFLD do not know they have it. See your provider if you begin to have unusual symptoms such as fatigue or abdominal pain. Prevention To help prevent NAFLD:Maintain a healthy weight. Eat a healthy diet. Exercise regularly. Limit alcohol consumption. Use medicines properly.Open ReferencesReferencesChalasani NP, Maher J. Alcoholic and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 138.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Eating, diet, and nutrition for NAFLD and NASH. www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/nafld-nash/eating-diet-nutrition. Updated April 2021. Accessed May 23, 2025.Rinella ME, Neuschwander-Tetri BA, Siddiqui MS, et al. AASLD Practice Guidance on the clinical assessment and management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Hepatology. 2023;77(5):1797-1835. PMID: 36727674 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36727674/.Torres DM, Harrison SA. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 87.
