Liver

So far, there is no drug therapy. Instead, the respective cause must be found and addressed in each individual case. For most people, this means adjusting their lifestyle, because a noticeable number of those affected consume plenty of sugared soft drinks and sweets in their daily lives. What helps then is a change to a Mediterranean diet and the renunciation of carbohydrates. In doing so, special attention should be paid to eliminating fructose-containing and glucose-fructose-containing drinks from the diet. If people of normal weight also lose about five percent of their body weight, the liver often responds with a recovery. In any case, exercise is part of this process; at least half an hour of exercise three times a week is recommended. The choice of sport is up to you and depends on your personal preferences and basic fitness level. The important thing is that the dietary and exercise goals seem achievable and that patients stay on the ball.

The liver is the only organ that can completely regenerate its cell mass within a few weeks, even if more than half of the organ has been destroyed or removed. Where this regenerative ability is coming from has not yet been fully researched. Experimental studies indicate that possibly the increased blood flow and the mechanical expansion of the blood vessels in the reduced or damaged liver are triggers. This causes more growth signals to be released such as hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). Once the liver has returned to its normal size, blood flow returns to normal and growth stops. However, the more advanced the stage of NAFLD, the more difficult it is for the liver to recover. Fibrosis can only be reversed to a limited extent, while in cirrhosis the functional liver tissue is lost for good.