We typically associate liver disease with alcoholism. But the liver functions as a filter, and over time it can be damaged by certain pharmaceuticals and even food. In fact, research suggests a strong correlation between undiagnosed celiac disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
The Gluten Free RN shares a number of case studies in which a diet change reversed liver damage and prevented the need for an organ transplant. She also takes us through the alarming statistics regarding NASH in children and discusses her approach to treating NASH patients.
Listen to understand the obesity trends in the US and how a sedentary lifestyle plays a part in liver disease. Join Nadine’s campaign to educate the population about the benefits of a gluten- and dairy-free, whole food diet – and prevent NASH!
What’s Discussed:
Nadine’s introduction to NASH in children
- Videoconference of pediatricians
- Discovered NASH on autopsies
- Few had signs/symptoms
The fundamentals of NASH
- Liver failure caused by changing environmental factors
- Dietary culprits (e.g.: sodas, fast food, processed foods, alcohol, high fructose corn syrup, nutrient-deficient carbs)
- Up to 90% of patients undergoing bariatric surgery have fatty liver disease
- Only diagnostic tool is liver biopsy
Obesity trends in the United States
- 60% of people in 13 states will be obese by 2030
- Link between poverty and obesity
Why starving people are obese
- Lack of nutrient-dense food results in low nutrient levels
- Body compensates for deficiencies by storing fat as cheap energy
The correlation between undiagnosed celiac disease and NASH
- Celiac disease found in 10% of patients with unexplained abnormal liver panels and 3.5% of patients with NASH
- Anyone with bump in liver enzymes should be screened for celiac disease and given gluten-free diet option
The 2015 Canadian study re: liver transplant
- NASH as most common indication for liver transplant in North America
- NASH projected to be leading cause by 2025
- Identified obesity, sedentary lifestyle, highly processed foods, undiagnosed celiac disease, MS and type 2 diabetes as causes
The basics of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFL)
- Buildup of fat in liver cells
- Largely asymptomatic until have profound liver/organ failure
Which populations are at increased risk for NASH
- Obese
- Hispanic
- Native American
- Pediatric
Liver transplant statistics
- 16,000 people on waiting list for liver transplant
- Only 6,000 liver transplants performed each year
Case study demonstrating the reversal of liver damage on gluten-free diet
- 19-year-old woman referred for emergency liver transplantation
- Recovered quickly on gluten-free diet, normal liver and small intestines after 20 months
- No surgery required
The correlation between celiac disease and liver disease
- Celiac patients at increased risk of NAFLD compared to general population
- Most common cause of chronic liver disease in children and adolescents in western nations
How Nadine approaches a patient with NASH
- Examine diet (food as medicine/poison)
- Replace highly processed fats
- Leverage minimally processed foods
How to combat obesity
- Educate people about the value of nutrient-dense food
- Provide medical and social support
The liver as a detoxing organ
- Functions as a filter
- Can be damaged over time by foods, acetaminophen, alcohol
What a good, whole food diet looks like
- Gluten- and dairy-free (ideally Paleo)
- Includes meat and fish, nuts and seeds, organic fruits and vegetables
The need for access to accurate nutritional information
- Not influenced by politics, food corporations, agribusiness or pharmaceutical companies
Resources:
“Non-Invasive Diagnostic Biomarkers” by Dr. Rohit Loomba of UC San Diego
Connect with Nadine:
‘Your Skin on Gluten’ on YouTube
Books by Nadine:
Dough Nation: A Nurse’s Memoir of Celiac Disease from Missed Diagnosis to Food and Health Activism
