Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)
Academic Term
Summer 8-7-2021
Document Type
Project
Course Number
NURS 6810-OL1
Course Name
Advanced Pathophysiology for the Advanced Practice Nurse
Professor’s Name
Dr. Sue Butz & Dr. John Chovan
Keywords
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis, Obesity, Microbiome, Gut Dysbiosis, Metabolic Syndrome
Subject Categories
Medicine and Health Sciences | Nursing
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the presence of hepatic steatosis that is not caused by alcohol consumption, viruses, or medications (Sivell, 2019). Fatty liver can become more inflamed and lead to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and possibly progress to cirrhosis and liver failure (Sheka et al., 2020). As rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes rise, healthcare providers can expect to see this disease more prevalently in practice. It can be difficult to provide timely healthcare because there are usually no signs or symptoms present with NAFLD (Mayo Clinic, 2020). This poster discusses the importance of recognizing comorbidities and risk factors that are correlated with NAFLD for early diagnosis and treatment. The pathophysiology is described as a multi-factorial disease process caused by genome-environment interactions, diet, hormonal imbalances, and gut microbiome alternations that lead to the initiation and progression of disease. The role of gut dysbiosis is highlighted in this poster due to the relatively new research demonstrating the role of altered gut flora in intestinal permeability and promotion of inflammatory pathways that correlate with NAFLD (Sivell, 2019). The use of prebiotics and probiotics (synbiotics) has been shown to regulate bacterial dysbiosis and decrease liver injury and inflammation (Inamine & Schnabl, 2018). Advanced practice nurses can greatly improve the health outcomes of NAFLD patients with early testing and diagnosis and by educating patients about the benefits of lifestyle changes, dietary treatments, exercise, and implementation of synbiotics.
Licensing Permission
Copyright, all rights reserved. Fair Use
Recommended Citation
Virgin, Rachelle, "Effect of Microbiome Alterations on the Progression & Treatment of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease" (2021). Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN). 475.
https://digitalcommons.otterbein.edu/stu_msn/475