Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease affects one in three adults and is considered one of the most common liver diseases in the United States.[1] The condition results in abdominal swelling and pain as well as severe fatigue.[2] The condition can be dangerous if it continues to progress, leading to chronic inflammation and cirrhosis.
Normally, the liver is responsible for maintaining glucose homeostasis by ensuring that glucose is used up in the most efficient way possible. This means that it will break down starch, releasing glucose and providing it to other cells in the body for use as a fuel for energy. It primarily works by maintaining the uptake and storage of glucose through glycogenesis. This is the process in which the liver stores glucose in the form of glycogen which serves as short-term energy reserves. The liver also produces bile salts which help absorb and break down fats. Waste products will then exit the body through the stool.
