It has long been thought that NAFLD, a condition associated with obesity and heart disease, had a deleterious impact on health and longevity. But the new study concluded that NAFLD does not affect survival.
"The doctors have thought that fatty liver disease is actually a risk factor for cardiovascular disease concern," he said in a news release from Johns Hopkins University study leader, Dr. Mariana Lazo, a postdoctoral fellow Welch Center for Prevention, Faculty of Medicine of the school.
"Our analysis of the data shows that there seems to be. To say the least surprised us, because we expected at least aware of how much disease increased NAFLD risk of death, and instead of them we find that the answer was that anything, "said Lazo.
The researchers analyzed data on more than 11,000 Americans aged 20 to 74 years of age who have been followed up for up to 18 years as part of the third National Survey examining the health and nutrition.
According to the study published in the November 18 issue of the journal BMJ , found no evidence of an increased risk of death in 20 percent of participants with NAFLD.
According to the American Liver Foundation (American Liver Foundation), NAFLD affects up to 25 percent of Americans. The condition is characterized by the inability of the liver to break down fat, with fat accumulation in this organ.
"We do not know why mortality is not affected or might actually have a protective effect of the disease of NAFLD, but it seems that the ability of liver to accumulate fat could somehow protect the body from the effects other harmful health problems like obesity and diabetes, "said Lazo in the press release.
