I'm due further blood tests end January. The ones done 6 months ago showed raised sugars, iffy kidney (repeat bloods normal), normal liver bloods but high cholesterol. My cholesterol has always been high from age 46. GP hummed and hawed about cholesterol meds for a few years but eventually said I should be on them a year ago. I have nafld, diagnosed with ultrasound after I experienced constant right sided rib pain. It says online that anyone with liver disease should not be on statins but gp said I should be on statins because I had fatty liver. I'm confused - should I be on statins if I have nafld? I'm female aged late 50s. The gastro Dr refused an appointment + fibroscan saying I needed to get my sugars under control and lose weight. I was 65kg but 60kg now, 5'3". I've never been overweight.
High cholesterol and nafld: I'm due... - British Liver Trust
High cholesterol and nafld
What was your CAP score? When you say that you have high cholesterol, is that raised triglyceride levels? It's very common for people with NAFLD to have raised triglyceride levels. Do you have any other conditions, particularly gut issues? NAFLD and high triglyceride levels are often associated with a very common disease called Bile Acid Malabsorption (BAM) which researchers (at Imperial) say affect 1 in 100 people; a lot of patients who have been told that they have IBS probably have BAM.
The causes of BAM are multiple; for many it's gallbladder removal that triggers it, for others it is surgery to the ileum and for many the cause is currently unknown and is being researched; it is thought that a hormone regulates bile acid release in the same way that the gastrin hormone regulates stomach acid release. Bile acid is formed from cholesterol so the issues are inextricably linked.
There's a patient support group for BAM called bad-uk.org which has a facebook group. NAFLD is often discussed on the forum. There's also a lot of discussions about the drugs used in BAM treatment and treating NAFLD via diet (typically a low fat diet). Weight loss drugs (ozempic etc) are currently being discussed a lot; these drugs in some cases appear to cure BAM; I'm guessing but it appears that the drugs are somehow affecting how bile acid is being released.
I have BAM, NAFLD and elevated cholesterol levels. I have found that low fat diet and more exercise have helped a lot. I am holding off from taking statins or weight loss drugs until the situation is clearer.
As well as discussing the issues with other people with NAFLD, l find that ChatGPT is fantastic for exploring these issues. If you give it your test results (CAP scores and blood test results), it remembers them and will give you detailed feedback.
Thanks for reply mickeymouse42.
Is a CAP score measured during a fibroscan? I requested this but the consultant that my GP wrote to denied the request due to 'normal liver blood tests'. My nafld was found after an abdominal ultrasound after I started experiencing right sided rib pain. Do you think I'm being given the runaround? I think triglycerides were slightly high but 'bad cholesterol' more of a problem. I still don't know if I should or shouldn't be taking statins - I just followed what the GP told me to do.
Yes a CAP score is measured only by a fibroscan: it estimates how much fat is in the liver. A fibroscan also measures fibrosis. Presumably your blood tests indicate you don't have fibrosis; however that doesn't mean you don't have fat; there's no blood test that measures fat
The ultrasound said this -liver slightly enlarged, echo bright showing fatty infiltration., wedge shaped area with decreased echogenity (2.7cm by 1.9cm), in keeping with focal fatty sparing.
So I was diagnosed with fatty liver on the ultrasound but denied a fibroscan as liver bloods normal.
Nafld
How are my levels back to normal?
Cholesterol 9.6!!
nafld and atrial fibrillation
