Jane Alexander, at 47, received a stark diagnosis: metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The diagnosis came as a surprise, as she believed liver disease was solely linked to excessive alcohol consumption. However, her GP explained that MASLD is triggered by metabolic and lifestyle factors.
"Your blood tests are back and they're showing your liver is under stress," her GP told her. "A lot of stress. In fact, you've got fatty liver disease."
Alexander, who was juggling a career, raising her son, and caring for her mother, also admitted to enjoying a couple of glasses of wine nightly and being overweight. She was initially in denial, questioning the diagnosis, but the news prompted a significant shift in her lifestyle.
She abstained from alcohol for over a year, during which she lost three stone and incorporated exercise into her routine. Despite these changes, her liver test scores continued to fluctuate, partly due to a genetic predisposition to high cholesterol and a significant sugar habit.
"Sweet stuff is my kryptonite," Alexander confessed, describing her inability to resist sugary foods. This addictive sugar intake, she learned, contributes to insulin resistance, which promotes fat accumulation and inflammation in the liver.
Seeking to break her sugar dependency, Alexander attended a "sugar detox" program. The retreat focused on cutting out a substantial amount of sugar initially, then carefully reintroducing it to reset taste buds and cravings. While challenging, the enforced habit change and subsequent at-home program helped boost her willpower.
According to Vanessa Hebditch, director of policy at the British Liver Trust, liver disease often develops silently, with many people unaware of their condition until a routine blood test flags it. She noted that mortality rates from liver disease are rising, with MASLD increasing by 150 percent since 1990. Alarmingly, one in ten children are estimated to have early signs of the disease. Hebditch emphasized that 90 percent of liver disease deaths are linked to preventable factors such as alcohol, obesity, and unhealthy diets.
Women's health expert Juls Abernethy, co-founder of The Body Retreat, stated that liver health is frequently ignored or misunderstood. "Not many women come on our retreats specifically for their livers, but we hear of many who find their test results are much improved afterwards," she said.
While there are no approved drug therapies for MASLD, research into potential treatments is ongoing. Hebditch stressed that prevention and lifestyle changes remain the most effective tools. She recommends everyone take the free Love Your Liver online risk checker at liveruk.org to assess their risk and consider discussing liver health with a healthcare professional.
Alexander's latest blood tests indicate her liver is now healthy. She now advocates for liver health awareness, encouraging others to prioritize it and seek medical advice if concerned. Her own experience, though initially shameful, led to gratitude for the diagnosis that prompted her life-altering changes.