Fatty liver, which is caused by the accumulation of fat in the liver, can cause inflammation and destruction of liver cells. Sleep is a fundamental physiological requirement for human health, so it may be implicated in the development of fatty liver. It is known that people who sleep less than 7 hours a day are more likely to suffer from fatty liver. Furthermore, people with airflow resistance in the upper airways tend to snore, and previous studies have shown that snoring plays an important role in several metabolic diseases (diabetes, hypertension, and kidney disease).
For these reasons, a study published in the journal PLOS One, sought to determine the possible relationship between snoring and fatty liver disease. The study included 3,708 participants, of whom 1,534 (41.4%) had fatty liver disease. The majority were men who snored more frequently and slept less. The group of participants who admitted to snore had elevated transaminases and higher cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose levels than the rest of the participants. It was also found that, in both women and men, the risk of developing fatty liver disease was statistically higher in those who snored. Finally, frequent snoring was especially associated with the development of fatty liver disease in participants under 40 years of age and those between 40 and 60 years of age.
In summary, this study has shown that, excluding other risk factors for fatty liver disease such as obesity or diabetes, snoring is an independent risk factor for developing the disease.
Although snoring has only a moderate predictive value as it is a simple indicator, it provides valuable information regarding the risk of developing fatty liver disease. Dr. Carreño and the Foundation’s doctors believe that snoring could be taken into account in routine check-ups of the general population to assess the possible development of fatty liver disease. In the future, it may be necessary to consider whether Sleep Units may also be involved in the treatment of fatty liver disease.
