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Does Long-term Low Protein Diet Increase The Risk Of Fatty Liver Disease?
Question: I read online that having a protein deficient diet can cause fatty liver disease. I'm almost 30, and I'm a vegetarian who has struggled to include protein in my diet since I was about 16-17. How badly off am I likely to be? Do I need to run, not walk, to the doctor? Or is a greater effort in including protein all I need, right now? The only liver issue I've ever had in the past is gallstones, but I have a family history of those.
Brief Answer:
You can get an ultrasound abdomen and fasting lipid profile
Detailed Answer:
Hi! Welcome to Healthcaremagic. Thanks for sharing your concerns with us. We will try to help you in best way possible. First of all it's sad to know what you had been going through lately.
Based on the history you have shared, it is likely to be that agressive to be called as a medical emergency and when you had work up for gall stones like ultrasound abdomen etc. fatty liver if present would have been detected.
Also that though one of the contributing factor is low protien diet as you mentioned but other factors like sedentary life styles, high fat diets, low physical activity, obesity, metabolic syndrome etc also add on to cause it.
Even if it's present in absence of any obvious signs of NAFLD or signs of early cirrhosis it's not an emergency but should be screened on fresh ultrasound abdomen and fasting lipid profile etc.
Adding fresh liquids and low fat diet combined with a balanced diet containing some protien content, and exercises may help to deal with it. Wishing you a steady and healthy life ahead.
Hope this has answered your query. If you have any questions please feel free to ask. Regards
You can get an ultrasound abdomen and fasting lipid profile
Detailed Answer:
Hi! Welcome to Healthcaremagic. Thanks for sharing your concerns with us. We will try to help you in best way possible. First of all it's sad to know what you had been going through lately.
Based on the history you have shared, it is likely to be that agressive to be called as a medical emergency and when you had work up for gall stones like ultrasound abdomen etc. fatty liver if present would have been detected.
Also that though one of the contributing factor is low protien diet as you mentioned but other factors like sedentary life styles, high fat diets, low physical activity, obesity, metabolic syndrome etc also add on to cause it.
Even if it's present in absence of any obvious signs of NAFLD or signs of early cirrhosis it's not an emergency but should be screened on fresh ultrasound abdomen and fasting lipid profile etc.
Adding fresh liquids and low fat diet combined with a balanced diet containing some protien content, and exercises may help to deal with it. Wishing you a steady and healthy life ahead.
Hope this has answered your query. If you have any questions please feel free to ask. Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
I had recent blood work done for another unrelated issue, and my AST and ALT levels were well within normal range. I just read those can be used to detect anything wrong with a fatty liver. Is this a good sign?
Brief Answer:
That also reflect that chances of fatty liver are less
Detailed Answer:
Hi! Yes these markers reflect that it is less likely that you are having fatty liver as with that ALT tends to rise too but if fatty desposition hasn't caused structural damage to liver yet, it may be normal. Regards
That also reflect that chances of fatty liver are less
Detailed Answer:
Hi! Yes these markers reflect that it is less likely that you are having fatty liver as with that ALT tends to rise too but if fatty desposition hasn't caused structural damage to liver yet, it may be normal. Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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