The Causes of Liver Damage
Overconsumption of alcohol2
Exposure to environmental toxins2
Taking specific type of drugs or herbal products, as well as eating processed food2,4
Diagnoses method for liver health
Blood tests, which are also known as liver function tests, can measure the levels of certain enzymes and proteins in the blood .5 They are used for screening, measuring, and monitoring disease purposes. 5 However, abnormal liver function test results do not necessarily mean having liver problems. 5 Instead, a liver ultrasound scan (also known as sonography), which is a noninvasive procedure, using high frequency sound waves to capture the liver image and investigate its blood vessels in real time, can be conducted .6
Fibroscan, also known as transient elastography, is a noninvasive test used for measuring fibrosis level. It measures the velocity of the shear wave penetrating through the liver, followed by the conversion of measurement into liver stiffness parameters . Fibroscan can also predict the recurrence of liver conditions after liver transplantation. 7
Prevention & Early treatment
To prevent liver problems, it is advised to reduce alcohol consumption, maintain a healthy body weight and active lifestyle, follow directions when using certain medications (e.g. acetaminophen), and conduct regular physical check-ups for screening obesity, high cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose .8 Besides, certain supplements can also help support liver health, aiding in the body’s natural filtration and detoxification. 9 Examples of liver support herbal supplements include milk thistle extract, dandelion root, green tea, and artichoke leaf .9
Both the antiviral and immune-suppressing medications may be used for the management of liver conditions .10 Besides, liver supplements such as milk thistle, artichoke leaf, and dandelion root may help with the detoxification .11 Changes of lifestyle, such as abstaining from alcohol, doing exercise to lose weight, limiting the intake of fats and calories, and replacing with more fiber, can also help manage the accumulation of fat in the liver.10,12
