The Singapore Family Physician
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                                    Vol 49 No. 1 - Chronic Disease Management 2023
                                
                            
                        
                    
                    Assessment and Management of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
                            
                                
                                    The Singapore Family Physician
                                    Vol 49
                                    No 1
                                    - Chronic Disease Management 2023
                                
                            
                        
                    
                                28
                                
                                    - 30
                                
                            
                        
                                
                                    1 January 2023
                                
                            
                        
                                0377-5305
                            
                        Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the commonest chronic liver disease in the world. Overall improvement in public health, active screening of blood products, universal vaccination of hepatitis B have led to drop in incidence of hepatitis B and C worldwide. NAFLD is strongly associated with metabolic syndrome. With rise in overweight status and obesity worldwide, it is not surprising that NAFLD is on the rise. Diagnosis of NAFLD requires confirmation of fatty infiltration in liver, as well as liver damage like elevated liver enzymes and presence of fibrosis. Currently best treatment for NAFLD is weight loss, and the proven method would be dieting with regular exercises. Vitamin E and pioglitazoles are promising medications for treating NAFLD, but each has their shortcoming. Until more studies are conducted, lifestyle modification remains the only reliable way to treat NAFLD. Family physicians also ought to look out for cardiovascular diseases, as well as be vigilant in cancer screening, as NAFLD is associated with higher risks of ischemic heart disease and cancer.
                        