Fasting to Reverse Fatty Liver Disease: Does it Work?

It’s not just what we eat or even how much. New research is shedding light on the importance of when we eat. Studies have shown fasting and time-restricted eating reduce the risk of many diet-related diseases. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is one such diet-related disease and affects millions of people worldwide. In the US, it’s estimated that as many as 40% of people suffer from this disorder – many of whom may not even realize. In this article we take a look at whether fasting is an effective way to reverse fatty liver disease.

Article summary:

  • Fatty liver disease can be caused by alcohol or poor diet which cause triglycerides to build up in liver cells
  • In most cases, it can be reversed by addressing the lifestyle factors that cause it
  • Evidence suggests fasting reduces liver triglycerides and increases expression of genes that prevent fat from being stored in the liver
  • Fasting is also associated with increased lifespan and reduced risk of diseases including cancer and diabetes

Fatty liver disease

Fatty liver disease is a buildup of triglycerides (fat) in liver cells.

It’s usually divided into two types: alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The former is brought on by chronic alcohol consumption whereas the latter is caused by poor dietary habits. Despite differing causes, they both cause micro and macrovesicular fatty changes within the liver.

Fatty liver disease doesn’t always present obvious symptoms. But if left unchecked, the buildup of fat causes chronic inflammation in the liver that can lead to fibrosis (scar tissue) and eventually liver cirrhosis.

Perhaps the biggest worry with fatty liver disease is its associated conditions. Individuals with fatty liver disease are more likely to suffer from diabetes1, heart disease1 and liver cancer1.

And it’s estimated that as many as 40% of people in the US suffer from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease1.

The good news is that it’s reversible. The liver is the only organ capable of regenerating lost tissue and full function can be restored from as little as 25% of the original liver1.

The most effective way to combat fatty liver disease is by addressing the environmental factors that cause it. Abstaining from alcohol and cutting back on unhealthy foods – particularly refined sugar and fast digesting carbohydrates – will stop the accumulation of triglycerides and give the liver a chance to recover.

And now there’s evidence of a new way to reverse fatty liver disease: fasting.

What is fasting?

Put simply, fasting means not eating.

Abstaining from food has been a feature of many cultures and religions throughout history. It’s long been associated with cleansing, disease prevention and many other health benefits. Now, modern science is backing these claims up.

Research suggests fasting may help:

  • Prevent cancer1,2,3
  • Reduce the risk of heart disease1,2
  • Reverse type 2 diabetes1,2,3
  • Extend lifespan1

As an added bonus, fasting has been shown to induce autophagy; the body’s natural recycling process. This is associated with impressive health benefits – many of which are only just being discovered.

There are generally two main types of fast: intermittent and prolonged.

Intermittent fasting consists of restricting eating to a set number of hours per day. For example, you might have an ‘eating window’ of 8 hours in which you consume all your calories and then fast for the other 16. This pattern is maintained indefinitely.

Prolonged fasting means going without food for longer periods of time – days or even weeks. Once the fast is complete, eating habits return to normal.

There is evidence that both types of fast reduce triglycerides in the liver and thus may be an effective way to reverse fatty liver disease.

Fasting and fatty liver disease studies

A substantial and ever-growing body of evidence suggests meal timing is an important factor in preventing obesity and related conditions such as fatty liver disease1,2,3,4.

The benefits of intermittent fasting for fatty liver are supported by studies in rats, such as this one.

Here, mice were randomly divided into two groups. One group was allowed to eat ad libitum – i.e. whenever they wanted to. The other group were only allowed to eat within an eight hour daily window.

Despite both groups consuming the same amount of calories, the researchers observed that:

“[Time restricted diet] mice were also protected from the hepatomegaly and elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels that are associated with obesity-induced hepatic steatosis […] Tissue samples from the [time restricted diet] mice had significantly less hepatic steatosis compared to those from the [non-time restricted diet] mice. In addition […] microscope images of the liver samples revealed that livers from the [time restricted diet] mice did not have the profound increase in intracellular fat deposits, reduced mitochondrial density and reduced endoplasmic reticulum that were characteristic of the liver samples from the [non-time restricted diet] mice “

Time restricted feeding without reducing caloric intake prevents metabolic diseases in mice fed a high fat diet. PMCID: PMC3491655

The mice on the time restricted diet were protected against many of the negative health effects associated with overeating – one of which is fatty liver disease. The mice on the time restricted diet did not have the same fat deposits in their liver as the mice on the ad libitum diet – despite equivalent calorie consumption.

Mice have all the same organs as humans and are metabolically similar. So this study suggests intermittent fasting may prevent fatty liver disease in humans too.

And research appears to back this up. This study looked at the effects of GADD45β; a gene responsible for controlling the absorption of fatty acids into the liver.

The authors describe how mice without this gene are significantly more likely to develop fatty liver disease. What’s more, they note how low GADD45β in humans corresponded with increased fat accumulation in the liver.

But what’s this got to do with fasting?

The researchers describe how fasting increases the expression of GADD45β. This is further proof that fasting helps prevent fatty liver disease.

“Here, we demonstrate that liver GADD45β expression is dynamically regulated upon fasting stress, […] where it aids in the coordination of liver lipid metabolism, by limiting hepatocellular fatty acid (FA) uptake via cytosolic FABP1 retention.”

Fasting‐induced liver GADD45β restrains hepatic fatty acid uptake and improves metabolic health. PMCID: PMC4888855

The beneficial effects of fasting on fatty liver disease are perhaps unsurprising.

It’s long been known that the body burns its own fat stores for energy when food is restricted. But this study goes a step further and shows how fasting regulates genes specific to fat storage in the liver.

Fasting for fatty liver disease: summary

Convention tells us we should eat three square meals a day – every day. With a normal working day, these meals are likely to be consumed within a 12 hour period.

But this conventional approach may not be optimal for everyone – especially individuals suffering from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

It’s beyond doubt that both what you eat and how much play a role in the progression of fatty liver disease. But there’s a new piece of the puzzle: when you eat.

As we’ve seen, time restricted eating mitigates many of the negative health effects of overeating – even with equivalent calorie consumption. What this means is individuals with fatty liver disease may be able to reverse this condition without changing anything other than their eating schedule.

We’ve also seen how fasting can increase the expression of genes which prevent triglycerides accumulating in the liver.

Science is only just starting to understand the benefits of fasting. But research so far suggests it may be a highly effective intervention for a whole range of diseases – just one of which is fatty liver disease.

11 Replies to “Fasting to Reverse Fatty Liver Disease: Does it Work?”

  1. Can you supply where these results were found ? Or who ran the research studies ? As I have been fasting for two years now 24 hours per week and would love to learn more.
    Thank you.

    1. All studies and research is cited in the article as links. Anyway, the studies specific to fatty liver disease are as follows:
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4888855/
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3491655/
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9363296
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15802901
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24442382
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23679071

      Of course, benefits of fasting go beyond reversing fatty liver disease, and you can also find other studies linked in the article.

      Thanks for your comment and keep up the fasting!

    2. Try alternate day fasting. Eat lunch and dinner only one day. The next, drink only black coffee, water, tea with no sweeteners or milk.
      Read doctor Jason Fung’s Diabetes code or watch his many videos on youtube. Reversed my fatty liver and type 2 diabetes.

  2. Very well written and informative article! I have read many articles on this subject but this has been the most helpful! Thank you!

  3. Seven years ago I dropped 20 kilo’s in nine months using the 5-2 with a lot of walking, an average of 8-10 Kilometres a day, I hated it but it worked, sadly I have regained a lot of it but I believe hate it or not fasting is the future, not only for weight loss but a lot of other good reasons, Cancer, Diabetes to name a few, it is a better way but it is a way of life rather than something you ‘Pick up’ now and then, I am aiming at the 20-4 which suits my timing better, no breakfast, good Lunch and early evening meal, fingers crossed, I need it to work.

  4. I have been fasting 16/8 daily for 4 months and have been amazed at the benefits.
    My metabolism has increased dramatically and I can now walk all day without stopping for breath instead of stopping every 5 mins.
    I feel much stronger.
    My body has changed shape for the better.
    I had previously drastically reduced my reflux and gut issues by avoiding processed food and lactose (with the exception of 200ml of home made Kefir) in recent years, I still had occasional issues but even these are now a thing of the past.
    I have lost 5 inches off my waist and dropped two sizes.
    I don’t get out of breath and can walk all day without getting tired.
    My blood sugar and cholesterol levels have dropped
    My high blood pressure has dropped.
    I wouldn’t be at all surprised if my fatty liver is improved as the pain from that area has disappeared too.
    Apart from the hunger before I end my fast, I think this is working really well for me.

  5. this is quite a disease that is taking over the population! are they doing any trials for medication that can help this in any way? My doctor, who is quite young, says I don’t have it? i asked why my CAT scan says I do???? i don’t think GP’s know much about this disease, which is unfortunate as she said she will not be doing any follow-up!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *