Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Nutrition Therapy
What is nonalcoholic fatty liver disease?
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or "fatty liver" is a liver disease that progresses slowly over time. It starts when fat builds up inside the liver. Over time, too much fat stays in the liver and may result in more severe conditions, such as cirrhosis. NAFLD usually develops in children and teenagers who are overweight or gain too much weight. Most of the time, fatty liver occurs with other health problems such as pre- diabetes, insulin resistance or high triglycerides.
How is NAFLD diagnosed?
- Blood tests (liver enzymes) to see if there is liver damage and to rule out other causes of your child's liver problems
- Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) are both common liver enzymes. When there is damage or inflammation in the liver, these numbers usually go up.
- AST and ALT are not specific to one disease and can be high from many different types of liver problems. More testing is usually needed to figure out what caused the elevation in the liver enzymes.
- Ultrasound of liver to look for fat or other abnormalities in the liver
How is NAFLD treated?
Children with NAFLD benefit the most from stopping their weight gain. We encourage children and their families to follow key health behaviors:
- Avoid sugary drinks and other sugary/sweet snacks, chips, etc.
- Drink mostly water and some low-fat milk
- Aim for at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day
- Limit TV and screen time to one hour or less per day
- Make half your plate vegetables at mealtimes
- Eat breakfast every day
- Add more lean protein to each meal
- Lower intake of carbohydrate-heavy food items (bread, rice, pasta, tortillas, etc.) by keeping portions small and opting for whole grain versions
What can I do to help my child?
Work together as a family to improve your healthy habits. Small changes can make a big difference over time.
- Start one healthy habit today
- Continue to add healthy changes over the coming weeks and months
- Follow treatment recommendations
Food Group |
Foods
to
Include |
Foods
to Limit |
|
Dairy | Fat-free (skim) or low-fat (1%) milk Fat-free or low-fat yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream | Whole milk, yogurt, ice cream Regular cream cheese, sour cream |
Fruits
and Vegetables | Fresh, frozen or canned fruit Fresh, frozen or canned vegetables without added fat or salt | Fried fruits or vegetables Fruit served with butter or cream Vegetables prepared with butter, cheese or cream sauce |
Grains
(limit due to carb content) | Whole-grain breads and cereals, including oats and barley Pasta made with whole wheat or other whole grains Brown rice Low-fat popcorn, whole-grain crackers or pretzels | High-fat bakery products, such as doughnuts, biscuits, croissants, Danish pastries, pies, cookies Snacks made with added oils, such as chips, cheese puffs, snack mixes, regular crackers, butter-flavored popcorn |
|
Proteins | Lean cuts of beef and pork (loin, round, extra-lean ground beef) Lean deli meats Skinless poultry Fish Dried beans and peas Meat alternatives | Higher-fat cuts of meats (ribs, regular ground beef) Bacon, sausage, hot dogs Cold cuts (salami, bologna) Poultry with skin Fried meat, poultry, fish |
Fats
and Oils
(use
sparingly) | Unsaturated oils (olive, peanut, soy, sunflower, canola) Soft or liquid margarines and vegetable oil spreads Salad dressings Seeds and nuts Avocado | Butter Stick margarine Shortening Tropical oils (coconut, palm oil, palm kernel |
|
Other | Water Calorie-free beverages Condiments | High-calorie sauces (alfredo, cheese, hollandaise) Sugar-sweetened beverages (regular soda, juice, fruit drinks) Candy |
References:
North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
www.gikids.org
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
www.eatright.org
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders
www.niddk.nih.gov
