Why can fatty liver cause liver cancer?

Fatty liver is a condition in which liver cells accumulate too much fat (over 5% of liver weight). People who are overweight, obese, diabetic, drink a lot and regularly consume alcoholic beverages are more likely to develop fatty liver disease.

Dr. Nguyen Cong Uan, Liver Tumor Unit, Oncology Center, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said that when fat accumulates excessively in the liver, fatty acid oxidation produces free radicals that cause DNA damage, triggering chronic inflammation and liver fibrosis, leading to liver cancer. High triglycerides and bad cholesterol (LDL-C) in the blood cause the liver to overload in lipid metabolism. This excess fat slowly accumulates in liver cells and creates inflammatory reactions in the liver. Over time, liver cells become infected and destroyed, then are gradually replaced by scar tissue and cancerous tissue.

In obese and diabetic people, insulin resistance also promotes the growth of malignant cells, causing liver cancer even before cirrhosis has occurred. This process often takes place silently over a long period of time.

Symptoms of fatty liver are often unclear at first, only detected during liver ultrasound. As the disease progresses, fatty liver has signs such as dark urine, white stools, itching, allergies, prolonged fatigue, jaundice, yellow eyes, loss of appetite…

According to Dr. Uan, to prevent fatty liver, adults should maintain BMI at 18.5-22.9, limit alcohol, reduce refined starch, animal fat and fructose. Increase green vegetables, beneficial fats like omega-3 from fatty fish, olive oil and nuts. Moderate-intensity physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day helps improve metabolism and reduce liver fat more effectively.

People with fatty liver disease should maintain a suitable diet, have regular health checks, and screen for cancer as advised by their doctor. People with fatty liver disease and diabetes, obesity, long-term elevated gene enzymes or fatty blood… should have an ultrasound and AFP test (check the AFP protein concentration in the blood) every 6 months.

Fatty liver that is not treated promptly can cause many complications such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver cancer… According to the Ministry of Health, Vietnam has nearly 30 million people with fatty liver, of which 30-35% are at risk of developing cirrhosis. The disease also increases the risk of cardiovascular problems such as heart failure, arrhythmia, stroke,…