What Causes Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease?

Hyperglycemia

Chronic states of hyperglycemia in an individual can cause them to develop nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Hyperglycemia is defined by an elevated level of sugar in the blood. When large amounts of sugar are consumed, the intestines absorb it into the bloodstream and blood glucose levels rise. As blood sugar rises, insulin is secreted by the pancreas to transport the glucose to numerous body tissues, including muscle and liver cells. Once glucose reaches the liver, it is converted into triglycerides. The triglycerides hang around in the liver and some are transported to the adipose tissue or fat tissue around the body for storage. Frequent states of high blood sugar cause this process to repeat itself excessively, producing significant amounts of fat. Glucose builds up in the blood when the liver is not able to metabolize the consumed sugars into fat fast enough. This occurs when the cells have become resistant to insulin. Fat accumulates in the liver because the adipose tissues become maxed out and deposit fat back into circulation, where it goes back to the liver. This mechanism is what causes an individual with hyperglycemia to develop nonalcoholic liver disease.

Keep reading to learn more about the causes of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease now.