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Living with Fatty Liver and NASH

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Collagen and fibrosis, do you know how that works?

nash2 profile image
nash2Partner
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Remember from prior posts, that fibrosis forms first as long strings that associate over time and are eventually arranged into a very stable triple helix that is zipped together by vitamin C. There are many kinds of collagen in your body and they have different characteristics depending on their specific chemistry. The progress of cirrhosis is determined by how that collagen forms and matures.

As a way to think of it, collagen is a cousin to the plastics that are everywhere in your everyday life. They are polymers which are large groups of similar molecules that link together. Like many collagens in the body, those in the liver are flexible and stretchy, think skin as an example, when they are formed. It is the nature of many polymers to take some time to "cook", that is to form the structure and then to cross connect to other molecules nearby. They attach to each other in dense mats which leads to the kind of tissue you see in a scar in your skin. It is basically a "mat" of fibers. As those mats get thicker and stronger they begin to destroy function in your liver and we call that cirrhosis.

Did you ever wonder why you hear about enlarged livers but end stage liver disease is characterized by a hard shrunken liver? Why would that be? Here the triple helix becomes the star. Over time the helix winds tighter and as a consequence shortens. If you heat human collagen much of it will shrink by as much as 20%. Imagine billions of tiny helical ropes getting shorter and killing liver cells trapped between them. We don't heat a human body, of course, but time is a good substitute for heat, and that explains how things continue to change in the liver even if the original cause is removed.

So why do you care? Fighting fibrosis is a continuous process. There is no quick solution but how might you manage the process? Think about sports teams, or yoga as examples. They work at stretching and manipulation of tissues. Their goals are to keep the various tissues working and staying flexible. In their case muscles and tendons. They try not to allow their collagen to shorten and harden and lose functionality. Could that idea apply to the collagen in the liver?

You will be told that there is nothing you can do about cirrhosis but the truth is more nuanced than that. You are also told that exercise is good for you. We hear that about everything so that message tends to get lost but lets take a walk through the liver. Since it is a flexible organ it responds to blood flow. If activity causes more blood to flow into the liver it flexes and adjusts to allow that extra blood to make it through. Conceptually exercise is similar to a yoga pose that stretches your liver.

If you regularly stretch those triple helix in your liver you can slow down their shrinkage. A fully mature and locked in helix will likely ignore you but those not yet stabilized can be affected by manipulation. Is this a cure? certainly not, but today our goal is to not die before effective treatments can be developed. We know those are coming. Not soon, but every day in the battle against the loss of liver function is important and consistency is vital. So when your doc says exercise, it really isn't just a good suggestion, it is a prescription for a treatment that can prolong your life.

I promise no more lectures on collagen.

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12 Replies
Truex profile image
Truex

Would taking a collagen supplement be bad? vital protein 18g 0% daily value with 20g Collagen per serving. This is all so confusing to me. Should I not eat any meat if I take this? Thank you for any response

nash2 profile image
nash2Partner in reply toTruex

It is basically protein and is a basic component of all meat

Truex profile image
Truex in reply tonash2

I understand that part lol... But i find nothing with scientific basis as to whether it could harm or be neutral for our liver... Like the videos posted about the way the liver functions... Loved those! Perhaps no one has done research? It baffles me how it provides 18g protein but 0% daily value. Thank you for your reply

Tarzan01 profile image
Tarzan01 in reply tonash2

Is Vital Protien safe to take if someone has NAFLD?

nash2 profile image
nash2Partner

I don't know of any study and assume it is because no one thinks there is any issue to test. Labeling rules can be odd, don't know why that would be.

Onesmallstep1969 profile image
Onesmallstep1969

Thank you for this post. It will keep me going on the days when I don't want to take that fast walk.

Veronica44 profile image
Veronica44

Makes total sense!!

Ilovejoe profile image
Ilovejoe

Thank you so much Wayne. I learn more here about the liver than my hepatologist, GI and PCP. I certainly will include exercise in my daily routine!

waterstop profile image
waterstop

So in your opinion, would it be beneficial to stop taking my 6 Neocell Collagen tablets every morning? I also take 2 scoops of Viral Collagen Protein every day. I’m under weight hence the 2 scoops of protein. I hav

waterstop profile image
waterstop

So you’re in your opinion should I discontinue my six tablets of Neocell Collagen type one & type three taken daily? I also take the recommended 2 scoops of Vital Collagen Protein daily. I am under weight and have a low BMI. I am on my way to Cleveland Clinic for my initial appointment on Tuesday as I write this message I suppose it’s a question I will ask them. However, my faith in the medical profession as far as nutrition is concerned is next to none. thank you for your opinion.

nash2 profile image
nash2Partner in reply towaterstop

Well, getting enough protein is critical so if that helps you do that it seems fine to me but the docs and Cleveland should be able to give you specific advice.

waterstop profile image
waterstop

Thank you

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