Our livers are an essential organ which perform more than 500 functions, including processing nutrients, filtering toxins, and producing bile to help digest fats. The liver also stores and releases glucose, which provides our bodies with energy.
Celebrated annually, World Liver Day is all about raising awareness about liver health and the importance of this vital organ. This year’s theme is Food in medicine, highlighting the role of nutrition in maintaining liver health.
Joining the annual campaign this year, St Andrew’s gastroenterologist, Dr Madhavi Kasi, shares her insights.
World Liver Day is a joint annual campaign by the Healthy Livers, Healthy Lives Coalition of global associations dedicated to the study of the liver and liver diseases, working collaboratively to raise awareness and promote liver health worldwide.
More than one third of the global adult population is affected by metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease. One in four Australians are living with metabolic associated Steatotic Liver disease (MASLD).
MASLD progression can cause inflammation, scarring, and heighten the chances of developing liver cancer. It is linked to diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol, and is often silent in its early stages.
However, it is highly preventable and even reversible through healthy nutrition patterns.
The choices we make on our plates directly impacts the health of our liver and overall wellbeing.
Adopting a diet abundant in minimally processed foods, low in sugar and saturated fats, and high in polyphenols and healthy fats supports liver health.
Losing just five to ten percent of total body weight can significantly reduce liver fat, curb inflammation, and even reverse early liver damage.
Healthy eating is not equally accessible or affordable for all, there is an emergent need for policies that promote nutritious food environments. Government initiatives such as dietary guidelines, food labelling, zoning laws, taxes on unhealthy foods, and school meal programmes can help facilitate healthier choices.
Liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounting for approximately 90 percent of primary liver cancers.
HCC parallels the rise of MASLD. Early detection of MASLD with ultrasound, fibroscan and transient elastography, to assess the degree of liver fibrosis, along with non-invasive liver fibrosis scoring like FIB-4, NFS should be incorporated into routine practice for GPs and specialists.
This World Liver Day, Hepatitis Queensland is championing the ‘show your liver some love’ movement by:
- Eating a balanced diet rich in whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grain and lean proteins
- Exercising regularly
- Using alcohol responsibly
- Asking your doctor for a liver check.
To learn more about preventing liver disease, visit Hepatitis Queensland.
Dr Madhavi Kasi is a gastroenterologist with subspecialty training in hepatology. She has special interests in all liver conditions including viral hepatitis, autoimmune and complex liver diseases, general gastroenterology conditions including coeliac disease and complex reflux disease, functional gastrointestinal disorders, and colonoscopy for bowel cancer screening.