Recent research has shown that the diabetes medication, metformin, is of no assistance in treating fatty liver disease in children. The same study also found a vitamin E also works the same as the placebo when treating this condition.
Fatty liver disease is becoming more common and can lead to some terrible consequences such as cirrhosis of the liver. In the United States alone, up to 20% of adults and 5% of children have the condition. It is strongly associated with obesity according to the American College of Gastroenterology.
Researchers had hoped that metformin or vitamin E would be helpful in combating fatty liver disease in kids. However, when compared with the placebo, researchers found no statistically significant difference. When they compared the results of a liver biopsy which was done at the beginning of the study and at the end of the study, the vitamin did show more promise in improving a more serious form of the illness called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
Fatty liver disease is just like the name. It is when fat collects in the liver. Not everyone who has fatty liver disease is overweight. It normally doesn't cause any symptoms, but it can progress to cause inflammation and scarring in the liver.
The study was published in the April 27 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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