(Canadian Press/ CTV News) — Research carried out in Montreal has led to a better understanding of the link between diabetes and fatty liver disease, particularly with regard to the role played by inflammation.
In laboratory experiments, the researchers found that liver cells exposed to sugar and fat begin to produce inflammatory molecules.
“In other words,” said researcher Jennifer Estall, “there seems to be a cross between what is wrong with diabetes and a deterioration of inflammation in the liver.”
The livers of people with diabetes also appear to be in worse condition than those of healthy people, she added.
“We think we can explain this link between diabetes and fatty liver, and why people with diabetes often have fatty liver,” said Estall, who works at the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal.
It is estimated that between 70 and 80 per cent of people with diabetes also have hepatic steatosis, a disease resulting from the accumulation of fat in liver cells. (…)