KOCHI: Chronic liver diseases, including cirrhosis, once considered as alcohol-induced, are now fast catching up among urban Keralites like other lifestyle disorders, including diabetes and hypertension. With the people getting fatter and richer, the liver diseases have also increased proportionately. According to a recent study, 5000 to 10,000 people die every year in the state due to liver diseases, compared to the national average of 70,000 while the National Institute of Health data shows that liver cirrhosis is the 12th leading cause of death by any disease in the country.
According to medical experts, the rate of non-alcohol -related fatty liver diseases in Kerala is more than 30 per cent while alcohol accounts for only 30 per cent of the ailment. “While alcohol was once the most common cause for accumulation of fat in the liver, non-alcohol fatty liver disease is surpassing it.
Many factors predispose people towards non-alcoholic fatty liver and the important ones among them are wrong dietary habits like consumption of junk food, high-fructose drinks, less consumption of proteins, lifestyle disorders like diabetes, hypertension, obesity and lack of physical activity,” said Dr. Mathew Jacob, consultant (Hepato Pancreato Biliary) and transplant surgeon, Aster Medcity, Kochi.
“It is wrongly thought that there is a strong correlation between alcohol and liver diseases. One third of the liver diseases reported in the state have nothing to do with alcohol consumption,” added Dr. Mathew Jacob. Fatty liver is often found among people in the age group of 25 to 40 and if not addressed in time, it will progress to cirrhosis by the age of 50 to 65.
“Since the liver diseases will not have early symptoms, those with high risk factors should have regular check-up. What makes liver different from other organs is its capacity to function normally until 80 per cent of it is damaged,” said Dr. Byju Kundil, chief liver transplant surgeon, Pariyaram Medical College, Kannur. “The tendency among Indians, especially South Indians, for fat deposit in the mid-portion of the body also is a high risk factor,” he added.
Doctors also warn against the general misconception that vegetarians are healthier and less vulnerable to liver ailments. Since vegans consume high carbohydrates which convert to fat and less protein, they are a high- risk group. “Though fatty liver is common, it can be dangerous if not corrected as it will progress to complicated situations like fibrosis, cirrhosis and cancer. It is a broad spectrum of diseases which can be prevented in the early stage through proper diet and exercise. Now, research is on to develop new drugs to restore the damaged liver. High doses of vitamin E are now being given to cure fatty liver,” said Dr. Philip Augustine, senior gastroenterologist and medical director of Lakeshore Hospital.
According to Dr. Philip Augustine, the rate of non- alcoholic fatty liver is higher in Kerala while alcoholic liver ailment rate is only 35 per cent. Though doctors agree that obesity among children is rapidly rising in the state, there is no alarming increase in fatty liver prevalence among children. According to estimates in the last National Health Survey report, Kerala stands second in the country in child obesity while Punjab is at the top.
However, there is an alarming increase in the rate of lifestyle disorders among adult population. According to a report of the Indian Council for Medical Science and Technology, the percentage of diabetes among Keralites is 16.2 per cent while the rate of hypertension, overweight and cholesterol is 32.7 per cent, 30.8 per cent and 56.8 per cent respectively.
