Causes And Risk Factors Of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Frequently, patients with polycystic ovary syndrome suffer from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease mainly because of insulin resistance, obesity, and androgen excess. According to findings published in PLOS Medicine, in female patients who suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome, the risk for nonalcoholic fatty liver is twice as high as in other women. This syndrome can bring fertility complications and might generate severe metabolic complications in the affected patient.

For this reason, females must have integrated health care and screening not only when planning their pregnancy, but throughout their whole life. Some signs of this syndrome are acne or oily skin, excessive hair growth, difficulties getting pregnant, hair loss, thinning hair on the head, irregular or no periods, and weight gain. Many individuals believe that this syndrome is painful, but that is just a myth.

Hypothyroidism

A research paper put to press in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology claims that the liver is an active participant in the chemical process that creates thyroid hormones. It suggests that untreated hypothyroidism, the insufficient production of thyroid hormone, can conduct to liver complications over time. Some of the most common causes of low functioning thyroid are the surgical removal of the gland, an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and radiation treatment.

The typical signs of underactive thyroid are muscle cramps, aches and weakness, depression, constipation, slow thoughts and movements, tiredness, weight gain, and sensitivity to cold. Some patients experience anxiety, body shakes, high heart rates, and hair loss as well. In other words, having a defective thyroid slows down metabolism and leads to an increase in thyroid-stimulating hormone levels. All this also generates fat accumulation in the body, which elevates the risk of developing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.