The Positive Impact of Weight Management on Liver Cirrhosis

Introduction

The liver is the largest organ in the human body. It has several essential functions, such as detoxification, protein synthesis, red blood cell decomposition, and the production of biochemical substances such as bile, cholesterol, enzymes, and hormones. The hormone cholecystokinin (CCK) stimulates the release of pancreatic lipase and the contraction of the gallbladder that enables it to release bile salts. Together, the pancreatic lipase and bile salts metabolize triglycerides into free fatty acids for easy transportation across the intestinal membrane. Once they cross the membrane, they convert back into triglycerides that combine with cholesterol within chylomicron vesicles. This enables the circulation of these fat molecules throughout the circulatory system, so that they can be delivered to the liver or become stored as fat in adipose tissue throughout the body. Additionally, the liver activates the storage of glycogen energy molecules, fat-soluble vitamins (A, E, D, K, and B₁₂), and minerals (iron and copper) (Arjun Kalra & Faiz Tuma, 2018).

The following case study demonstrates how adhering to a healthy, balanced diet helped a patient improve their liver cirrhosis through weight management and motivation. According to Anand (1999), liver cirrhosis is the most common disease in the world. The number of deaths from cirrhosis in the United States ranges from 12 to 15 per 100,000 within the general American population (Anand, 1999). Additionally, approximately 500,000 people globally die each year from hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related liver disease (Marugán & Garzóno, 2009). In terms of obesity, the World Health Organization (2020) has defined it as excessive fat accumulation that could negatively affect a person’s health. According to Schiavo et al. (2018), there is a strong parallel between obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease that may lead to the development of cirrhosis. Many studies have found that morbid obesity may lead to liver diseases such as cirrhosis, which is also demonstrated in this case study. This case study reflects the extent to which a patient's success in overcoming obesity and treating fibrosis (through dietary change and lifestyle modification) has the potential to substantially impact their overall prognosis.

Following a healthy balanced diet can be used as a therapy to reduce the risk of developing many health conditions, such as diabetes, fatty liver, and cardiovascular diseases. According to previous studies up to the present time, a strong correlation has been established between consuming a healthy diet and having a functional health status. For example, following a well-balanced diet, together with increased physical activity or undergoing a surgical intervention, such as gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, or gastric band, has been proven to be a successful method of treatment. Bray, Frühbeck, Ryan, and Wilding (2016) found that different types of bariatric surgeries among obese patients produced remarkable results in terms of weight loss. Each of these options can lead to significant consequences regarding weight loss to treat specific conditions, including type two diabetes mellitus, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and high blood pressure. According to Riazi et al. (2019), losing weight by bariatric surgery can cure NAFLD. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, commonly known as fatty liver, is caused by excessive food intake or insulin resistance. Most people who suffer from obesity or who are overweight are more susceptible to developing fatty liver (Riazi et al., 2019). Untreated NAFLD may lead to inflammation of the liver in the form of a condition known as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which eventually causes fibrosis. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is characterized by liver inflammation and fibrosis progression (Wong et al., 2016).