Tag

Liver Disease

All articles tagged with #liver disease

health8 days ago•8 min saved

Invisible Itch: How PFIC in Adults Can Mask a Liver Problem

Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) can cause severe internal itching in adults, often without visible skin signs and with normal liver imaging, leading to delays or misdiagnosis as a skin condition. PFIC is a spectrum, not just a childhood disease, and diagnosis relies on symptoms plus genetic testing rather than scans. Awareness is growing and treatments like BYLVAY (odevixibat) can relieve itch for many patients, though effectiveness varies by PFIC type and there are potential side effects; patients are advised to consult an adult hepatologist and connect with PFIC support networks for diagnosis and management.

via vox.com|

#genetics #health #liver-disease

health11 days ago•8 min saved

PFIC’s Hidden Burden: Adult Itching Signals a Rare Liver Disorder

Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) can cause severe internal itching in adults, often misdiagnosed because PFIC is treated as a pediatric disorder and imaging may appear normal. Diagnosis relies on symptom patterns and genetic testing to uncover underlying mutations, recognizing PFIC on a spectrum in adults with variable liver function. Awareness, patient advocacy, and resources like the PFIC Network help patients get answers, while treatments such as BYLVAY (odevixibat) offer relief for itch with careful monitoring for side effects and vitamin deficiencies.

via vox.com|

#adult-onset #genetic-testing #health

health11 days ago•3 min saved

Acetaminophen Tops Rising Liver Injuries as Exposures Quadruple

A UVA study of the National Poison Data System shows externally caused liver injuries have more than quadrupled since 2000, with acetaminophen taken alone (Tylenol) as the leading contributor and alcohol a distant second; about 220,000 reports involved people 15 and older, and more than 80% of injuries led to hospitalization. The rate rose from 10.9 to 52.9 exposures per million, though recent years show a steadier pace after regulatory limits on acetaminophen in combination products reduced such injuries in the 2010s. The piece also notes roughly 90,000 Americans report acetaminophen toxic exposures annually and highlights the importance of moderation and staying near 3,000 mg per day when possible, consulting a doctor for higher doses.

via Gizmodo|

#acetaminophen #health #liver-disease

lifestyle22 days ago•38 min saved

Liver health alert: don’t ignore the subtle signs, says Dr. Anurag Shetty

Gastroenterologist Dr. Anurag Shetty outlines early liver-disease signs—fatigue, nausea, reduced appetite, right‑sided abdominal discomfort, weight/muscle loss, and itching—and advanced symptoms like leg swelling, fluid in the abdomen, jaundice, vomiting blood, and cognitive changes. He notes that hepatitis A/E can progress quickly, while hepatitis B/C and cirrhosis can remain silent for years. The article emphasizes that you shouldn’t rely on symptoms alone; annual blood tests and ultrasound can detect problems early, especially if you have diabetes, obesity, regular alcohol use, viral-hepatitis risk, or a family history of liver disease, improving treatment outcomes with timely care and lifestyle changes.

via Hindustan Times|

#early-diagnosis #hepatitis-b-c #jaundice

health1 month ago•8 min saved

The Inside-Out Itch: PFIC Surfaces in Adults

PFIC, a rare genetic liver disorder, can present in adults as a severe, internal itch (pruritus) driven by bile-acid buildup, often mistaken for a skin issue. Diagnosis is challenging because PFIC is traditionally seen as pediatric and standard imaging is usually normal, making genetic testing and symptom review crucial. The condition exists on a spectrum in adults, with varying severity, and awareness plus access to adult hepatology is key to timely diagnosis and management. Treatments like BYLVAY (odevixibat) can relieve PFIC- and ALGS-related itch, though there are gene-specific considerations and potential side effects; patient advocacy and networks aid in navigating diagnosis and care.

via vox.com|

#adult-onset #genetics #health

health1 month ago•7 min saved

Coffee Tied to Lower Liver Disease Risk in Large UK Biobank Study

Analyzing UK Biobank data over a median of 13 years in 354,957 adults, researchers found that higher coffee intake is linked to lower risks of cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver-related death; MRI and proteomic data showed healthier liver tissue and metabolism in coffee drinkers, with benefits beginning at 1–2 cups daily and seen for both caffeinated and decaf coffee. The study is observational and cannot prove causation, so moderation is advised and coffee should not replace other liver-protective habits. Future work aims to identify the specific coffee compounds involved.

via SciTechDaily|

#cirrhosis #coffee #health

health1 month ago•186 min saved

Coffee May Shield Liver From Disease and Cancer, Large Study Finds

A large, long-term study of more than 354,000 participants found that regular coffee consumption is associated with lower risks of cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver-related death, with bigger risk reductions at higher intake (even five cups or more). The study suggests the benefit may stem from coffee's antioxidants rather than caffeine, since decaffeinated coffee showed similar effects. Additives like sugar slightly dampen the benefit. The authors caution that these are associations, not proof of causation, and limitations include baseline-only coffee intake data and a predominantly European, health-conscious cohort. Coffee may have other health benefits as well, but moderation of sugar and caffeine is advised per guidelines.

via CNN|

#coffee #health #liver-cancer

health1 month ago•9 min saved

Liver Health Fever Sparks Supplement Surge, Doctors Warn Against Quick Fixes

Rising interest in liver health is driving a surge in supplements and online content, but hepatologists warn that most products lack solid evidence and can be harmful; the liver’s role extends beyond detox, and the recommended approach is maintaining a healthy weight, a Mediterranean-style diet, regular exercise, limited alcohol, and routine liver-screening tests to monitor MASLD/NAFLD risk.

via Business Insider|

#health #liver-disease #liver-health

health2 months ago•7 min saved

Preventable liver disease propels rise in liver cancer deaths worldwide

Liver cancer deaths are rising globally, including in the UK, with most cases linked to preventable liver disease caused by obesity, type 2 diabetes, excess alcohol, and viral hepatitis. At least 60% of primary liver cancers may be preventable by addressing these risk factors. Early detection and lifestyle changes can reduce risk and improve survival, but without urgent government action—such as restricting alcohol and ultra-processed foods, expanding addiction services and hepatitis testing, and implementing policy reforms—the trend is unlikely to reverse.

via ScienceAlert|

#cancer-prevention #health #liver-cancer

health2 months ago•7 min saved

Protein Boom vs. Liver Health: When More Isn’t Better

Protein is essential, but the current craze—especially high supplement use—can burden the liver with undisclosed additives and contaminants. Most adults meet protein needs through food; excess or unguided supplement use may harm liver function, particularly in people with fatty liver, obesity, diabetes, or heavy alcohol use. Advice: prioritize whole foods, limit supplements, read labels, choose independently tested brands, and consult a doctor if liver disease risk exists, with periodic liver tests for long-term supplement use. Balance is key.

via The Times of India|

#health #liver-disease #liver-health

health2 months ago•8 min saved

Sorbitol May Fuel Fatty Liver When Gut Bacteria Falter

A Washington University study shows sorbitol can be converted to fructose in the liver when gut bacteria that normally degrade it are depleted, leading to fat accumulation in the liver in zebrafish and suggesting higher MASLD risk with excessive sorbitol intake or disrupted gut microbiota; gut bacteria may mitigate this by metabolizing sorbitol to harmless byproducts under normal conditions.

via Food Safety Magazine|

#fructose #gut-microbiome #health

health3 months ago•12 min saved

Sugar-free sorbitol may damage the liver, study suggests

A new study suggests the sugar-free sweetener sorbitol may damage the liver similarly to fructose and contribute to fatty liver disease.

via Baltimore Sun|

#fatty-liver-disease #health #health-study

health3 months ago•8 min saved

Vitamin B12: High Blood Levels as a Possible Cancer Signal, Not a Cure

Vitamin B12 is essential for DNA repair, nerve function, and blood cell health, but very high levels may signal underlying illness rather than provide cancer protection. While deficiency is a real risk, long-term high-dose B12 supplements have not shown clear cancer-preventive benefits, and elevated B12 in cancer patients is often an epiphenomenon caused by liver release or B12-binding proteins. High B12 could serve as a cancer marker in some cases, especially for colon or oral cancers, but for most people a balanced diet suffices and megadoses should only be taken under medical advice, with emphasis on overall healthy habits and routine screenings.

via SciTechDaily|

#biomarker #cancer #health

health3 months ago•1 min saved

MetALD: New Liver Disease Emerging from Obesity and Alcohol

MetALD—metabolic dysfunction and alcohol-associated liver disease—is a rising U.S. health concern as obesity and diabetes intersect with heavy drinking. It affects people with liver fat and metabolic risk factors who drink more than 10 drinks per week (women) or 15 (men); the share of Americans meeting these criteria has roughly doubled since 1990, with about 1 in 10 adults reporting overlapping heavy drinking and obesity. Doctors warn many cases may go undetected, particularly among younger people and women.

via statnews.com|

#alcohol #diabetes #health

science3 months ago•11 min saved

AI Blood Test Uncovers Hidden Liver Disease Before Symptoms

Johns Hopkins researchers have developed an AI-powered liquid biopsy that analyzes genome-wide patterns of cell-free DNA fragments to detect liver fibrosis and cirrhosis years before symptoms, using about 40 million fragments across thousands of genomic locations including repetitive DNA regions. The fragmentome-based approach, aided by machine learning, aims to identify early liver disease and potentially other chronic conditions beyond cancer. The liver-disease classifier is still a prototype and not yet clinically available; validation is ongoing. If validated, earlier detection could enable interventions to reverse fibrosis and reduce liver-cancer risk for millions at elevated risk in the U.S.

via SciTechDaily|

#ai #cfdna #early-detection