Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)
Home Treatment
Since there is no specific treatment for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), doctors recommend that you treat the conditions that are associated with it. These include obesity, high cholesterol and high triglycerides, and diabetes. By taking steps to lose weight, lower your cholesterol, and control your diabetes, you can stop or limit the damage to your liver from NASH.
If you are obese, losing weight can help stop or limit the liver damage from NASH. Experts recommend that you gradually lose 10% of your total body weight. It is important that you lose this weight gradually, at a rate of about 0.5 kg (1 lb) to 1 kg (2 lb) per week.3 Losing weight too rapidly through a crash diet or a surgical procedure can cause even more damage to your liver. For more information on obesity and how you can safely and effectively lose weight, see the topics Obesity and Healthy Weight.
High cholesterol and high triglycerides mean that you have large amounts of fat in your blood. High cholesterol increases your risk of fat building up in your liver, which can lead to NASH. Drugs that lower cholesterol levels have not been proven effective for treating NASH. But a heart-healthy diet can lower your cholesterol and may improve NASH. For more information on high cholesterol and how you can reduce yours, see the topic High Cholesterol.
One safe and effective way of controlling your cholesterol without taking medicine is a program called Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes. This program involves losing excess weight, increasing your activity, and eating meals that are low in saturated fat. Done together, these changes may help you lower your cholesterol by 10% to 20%.
If you have diabetes, keeping your blood sugar in a safe range can help improve NASH. For more information on how to control blood sugar, see the topic Type 2 Diabetes: Living With the Disease.
Alcohol can make liver damage worse, so you should minimize your alcohol use if you have NASH.
You should also stop taking any medicines that may be harming your liver. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines you are taking.
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| Author: | Douglas Dana Monica Rhodes | Last Updated: September 10, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine W. Thomas London, MD - Hepatology Donald Sproule, MD, CM, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine | |
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