Liver Diseases

According to the “Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health 2014” released by the World Health Organization, the use of alcohol has reached a detrimental level, resulting in more than 3 million deaths every year and accounting for 5.9% of all deaths worldwide. As the metabolism of alcohol in the organism mainly depends on the liver, the long-term consumption and over-consumption of alcohol leads to liver damage and triggers alcoholic fatty liver disease thereafter causing health issues ranging from fatty liver to alcoholic hepatitis and even cirrhosis. 

Astaxanthin And Fatty Liver Disease

Liver inflammation is a reaction that occurs when liver cells are attacked by a disease-causing microbe or substance.

The word hepatitis refers to liver inflammation. Most forms of hepatitis result from viral infection, although in some cases it is caused by an autoimmune disorder, in which the body’s immune system attacks liver cells because it cannot tell the difference between harmful invaders and healthy liver tissue. Damage to the liver from alcohol, obesity toxins, and certain drugs can also result in inflammation and fatty liver disease.

Common Symptoms Of Liver Inflammation?

Symptoms of liver inflammation can involve a variety of body systems, with effects ranging from decreased energy level to skin irritation to abdominal and gastrointestinal symptoms.

There are various types of liver inflammation, and symptoms vary depending on the type. At times, any of these symptoms can be severe:

• Abdominal swelling, distention or bloating
• Diarrhea
• Discolored urine and stool
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Itchy skin
• Joint pain
• Loss of appetite
• Low-grade fever
• Malaise and lethargy
• Nausea with or without vomiting
• Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)

Causes Of Liver Damage

Inflammation or fatty liver disease could be the cause of an enlarged liver. This could be from:

• Obesity
• Infection (such as Hepatitis B or Hep C)
• Some medications
• Alcohol use
• Toxins
• Autoimmune disease (your body’s immune system attacks healthy tissue)
• Metabolic syndrome (a group of risk factors for heart disease that includes high blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels, and belly fat)
• Disorders that cause fat, protein, or other substances to build up

Potential Complications Of Liver Inflammation?

• Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver that causes severe dysfunction)
• Cryoglobulinemia (presence of abnormal proteins in the blood that can cause inflammation of the blood vessels)
• Fibrosis of the liver (development of fibrous tissues that interfere with liver function)
• Hepatic encephalopathy (brain disorder caused by liver disease)
• Liver cancer
• Liver failure
• Portal hypertension (increased blood pressure in the veins around the liver, stomach, and esophagus) liver

How Astaxanthin Can Assist The Liver?

The development and progression of fatty liver disease is influenced by intestinal microorganisms. Astaxanthin has been proven in studies to relieve liver injury as well as have a positive effect on the microorganisms linked to liver damage. The results showed that astaxanthin treatment significantly relieves inflammation and decreases excessive fat accumulation and serum markers of liver injury.

“It has been suggested that astaxanthin is protective against various types of liver damage, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and liver fibrosis. Astaxanthin has the ability to reverse liver weight ratio increase, hepatic inflammation, and lipid dysmetabolism” – The National Institute of Health