Understanding MASLD and MASH (Fatty Liver Disease)

What is MASLD?

MASLD = Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease

See More Information from Cleveland Clinic

MASLD happens when fat builds up in the liver.

MASLD often has no symptoms at first. It can be caused by metabolic conditions like:

• High blood sugar (Insulin resistance, prediabetes or type 2 diabetes)
• High blood pressure
• High LDL (bad) cholesterol and high triglycerides, low HDL (good) cholesterol
• Obesity / Weight around the middle

Other causes

• Age / genetics
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome

Testing and early detection is important!

Your provider may order these blood tests: A1C, Complete Blood Count (CBC) Complete Metabolic Panel (CMP), Lipid Panel, Liver Function Test Scans: Ultrasound or FibroScan

What is the treatment for MASLD?

• Make lifestyle changes: Eat a healthy diet (Fruits, vegetables, healthy meats, grains, limit junk food)
• Exercise (Even walking is great!).
• Keep your blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol under control
• Avoid smoking, consumption of sugary drinks and alcohol.

MASLD is reversable but without lifestyle changes it can lead to more serious liver disease!

What is MASH?

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis

See more information from Cleveland Clinic

MASH is a progressive and serious liver disease, and one of the leading causes of liver transplants worldwide.

On a scale from a healthy liver to an irreversibly damaged one, MASLD is one step past healthy, with MASH after it, on the border between reversible and irreversible liver damage. Cirrhosis is past MASH, as irreversible damage.

MASH is an advanced stage of MASLD where fat buildup in the liver causes inflammation and liver cell damage. MASH may lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and even liver failure if untreated.

Common and Growing: 18.7 million U.S. adults will have MASH by 2030 and cases are projected to increase to 23.2 million by 2050.

Liver Cancer

• Liver cancer happens when liver cells grow out of control, forming tumors. The most common type is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
• It is often linked to MASLD, MASH, viral hepatitis B and C, and metabolic issues, like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity.
• Make sure you are vaccinated against hepatitis B. The hepatitis B vaccine can prevent liver cancer.
• Early Detection is very important! Get screened!

Click here to learn more from Cleveland Clinic

Contact Us

Email: info@hbi-dc.org

Phone: (202) 220-8583

Website: hbi-dc.org

Content Source: Cleveland Clinic, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/ diseases/22437-non-alcoholic-fatty-liver-disease; https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22988-nonalcoholic-steatohepatitis; https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9418-liver-cancer;  Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nonalcoholic-fatty-liver-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20354567; American college of Gastroenterology, https://gi.org/topics/steatotic-liver-disease-masld/; American Liver Foundation, www.liverfoundation.org, https://liverfoundation.org/liver-diseases/cancer/ ;Prevent Cancer Foundation, https://preventcancer.org/prevention-screening/viruses-and-cancer/