Fatty liver

I Stopped Drinking Alcohol Every Day (bonus Scary Chart)

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Worldwide, MASLD became the most common chronic liver disease, affecting up to 38% of the adult population (11). In addition, the global prevalence of MASLD is expected to further increase during the next two decades (12). For example, in the U.S., the prevalence of MASLD is predicted to increase from 34% (86 million people) in 2020 to 41% (122 million people) by 2050 (13). MASLD is an increasingly important contributor not only to liver-related but also to extrahepatic morbidity and mortality worldwide. This observation supports that the clinical burden of MASLD clearly extends far beyond the liver, making it a multisystem disorder. While among people with MASLD <10% develop liver-related complications, the major causes of death are CVD and cancer (11,14).

Today, the highest global pooled prevalence of MASLD is found among people with obesity (75% [95% CI 71–79]) (15) and type 2 diabetes (65% [61–68]) (16). Among people with obesity (34% [28–39]) and people with diabetes (32% [17–51]) there is also a very high prevalence of the advanced form of MASLD, metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH) (15,16). Furthermore, at 37% (95% CI 26–48), the prevalence of MASLD is also very high among children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes (17). This very early onset of MASLD may have severe long-term consequences for the liver, such as higher risk for cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In addition, among adults with prediabetes prevalence of MASLD is approximately twofold higher in comparison with people with normal glucose regulation, independently of adiposity (18). The findings that overweight and hyperglycemia are tightly related to MASLD indicate that there are joint pathomechanisms promoting adiposity, hyperglycemia, and MASLD. Furthermore, hyperglycemia may promote hepatic steatosis and inflammation, and the steatotic and inflamed liver may also be involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Thus, there may be a vicious cycle between increased liver fat content and insulin resistance–associated hyperglycemia promoting the progression of both diseases.

Norbert Stefan; MASLD as Complication of Diabetes. Diabetes 20 July 2026; 75 (8): 1359–1370. https://doi.org/10.2337/dbi26-0001

The US Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued new alcohol guidelines in January 2026 “Consume less alcohol for better overall health” and I take advice from my government seriously.

Trouble in Paradise – 12.21.22

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An analysis of current drinkers in the Framingham Heart Study found that a higher number of drinks per week and higher frequency of drinking were associated with increased odds of fibrosis among patients whose consumption fell below the threshold for heavy alcohol use.

Non-Heavy Alcohol Use Associated With Liver Fibrosis, NASH – Medscape – Dec 21, 2022 – https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/985950?src=rss#vp_1

Oh crap.

I better read the full study.

Non-heavy alcohol use associates with liver fibrosis and ‘nonalcoholic’ steatohepatitis in the Framingham Heart Study – DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2022.10.039

Fatty Liver Matters

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Please tell me you already knew this.

Medical News: Fatty Liver Raises Risk of Death – in Gastroenterology, General Hepatology from MedPage Today

People with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition that often accompanies obesity and type 2 diabetes, have higher mortality rates than the general population, a new Swedish study found.

Patients with NAFLD were 69% percent more likely to die than the general Swedish population (standardized mortality ratio 1.69, 95% CI 1.24 to 2.25), according to a report in the February issue of Hepatology.

Patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a condition where fat buildup causes liver inflammation, were at 86% higher risk (95% CI 1.19 to 2.76; P=0.007).