Fatty liver disease – Choline provides a nutritional solution for a silent epidemic

by: Helmut Beierbeck

Fatty liver disease used to be associated with alcoholism, but it is no longer
restricted to heavy drinkers. Our calorie-rich but nutrient-poor diet has led
to an epidemic of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that tracks our
rising obesity and diabetes rates (1). Autopsies and ultrasound studies have
shown that up to 75% of the obese and 70-85% of type 2 diabetics have fatty
livers. And the low-profile but essential nutrient choline appears to provide
the solution to the problem (1, 2).

What is NAFLD?

NAFLD develops in two stages (1). In the first stage fat accumulates in the
liver. This fat can come from several sources: free fatty acids released into
the blood by fat tissue, lipogenesis in the liver from carbohydrates
(especially fructose from HFCS or table sugar), and dietary fats carried to the
liver by chylomicron remnants. Fatty liver disease is a silent epidemic because
its first stage, fat accumulation, generally doesn't produce overt symptoms. Readmore…