Thoth Science Explains - Ep2 - NAFLD, NASH and Complications

At Thoth Science, we are working on tackling some of the most concerning chronic diseases. While using treatments is one way to respond to these diseases, it is ideal to prevent them from the beginning.

In these short explainers, we aim to raise more awareness and provide accurate information about the diseases we are working to cure.

These posts by no means qualify as medical advice and serve only as reference material. If you have any concerns about your health, please consult with your medical provider.

NAFLD

(Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease)

What is it and what can we do about it?

What is NAFLD?

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease or as it has lately been referred to as Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease [source], is a complex multisystem disease [source] affecting not only the liver but also increasing the risk of Diabetes and Cardiovascular diseases among others [source]. NAFLD is characterized by accumulation of more than 5% fat in the liver tissue without any other cause, such as damage due to substance abuse or viruses [source]. Its spectrum ranges from simple steatosis to the more serious Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) [source].

What Causes NAFLD?

NAFLD is commonly caused by a combination of issues such as obesity, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. While researchers are learning more and more about the pathogenesis of NAFLD, the causes listed above appear to be the most common reasons [source].

What are the Risks of NAFLD?

NAFLD by itself is not a life-threatening disease. However, it can progress to Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) and later on to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and even liver cancer [source].

How does NAFLD affect people’s lives?

NAFLD is generally characterized as an asymptomatic disease and sometimes with non-specific discomfort. However, some patients with later stage NAFLD are reported to have lower overall quality of life compared to peers with other liver diseases [source]. NAFLD alone might not cause too many complications to the patients, but its progression to NASH, Fibrosis, Cirrhosis or HCC can lead to liver transplants [source] and other drastic measures to stop the progression of the disease from becoming life threatening.

The worldwide impacts of NAFLD

The number of NAFLD patients rose quickly along with the rise of the global obesity epidemic. Currently, it is estimated that about one in four people suffer from NAFLD worldwide [source]. From this population, it is estimated that up to 10-30% will develop NASH [source], of whom 5-12% [source] will develop cirrhosis.

Are there any cures for NAFLD?

In order to manage NAFLD, a stage based approach was proposed recently [source]. In the early stage, patients focusing on weight loss, eating habits, and overall lifestyle corrections is recommended. Nevertheless, if necessary, bariatric surgery and pharmacological treatments can also be regarded as options. Although some pharmacological trials are underway, the late stage progression such as NASH can lead to cirrhosis, which is considered irreversible as of the writing of this article[source]. Depending on the severity, patients can only hope that lifestyle interventions help controlling further fat accumulation in the liver. Unfortunately, for those patients whose disease progressed to the latest stages, liver transplantation remains as the only option.

What is Thoth Science doing to solve the rising NAFLD problem?

Thoth Science Inc. is developing NASH Cell Therapy that provides implantation of medical device containing cells that continuously release secretomes. The device is produced by inserting stem cells first into TheraCyte™, then implanted into the patients.