Liver Disease and Nutrition

The prevalence of obesity continues to rise at a staggering pace as does the incidence of numerous health conditions. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the adverse consequences to the rise in obesity and is becoming a common problem health care professionals must treat. NAFLD is the most prevalent liver disease in the United States, representing an estimated 24% of cases of liver disease. A small percentage of these patients will progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and subsequent cirrhosis if medical and nutritional interventions are not implemented. Cirrhosis is a chronic disease of the liver often preceded by hepatitis and fatty liver, independent of the cause. Diagnosing malnutrition in cirrhotic patients is challenging. Tune in as our experts will discuss NAFLD and cirrhosis including risk factors, diagnosis, disease progression, and the role of diet management and specialized nutrition support.