Liver Health
Your Liver Has Never
Complained. That's Exactly
The Problem.
More than 1 in 3 British adults have fatty liver disease and most have absolutely no idea. The liver is one of the few organs that can be seriously damaged before it ever gives you a single symptom. Here's why that matters — and what to do about it.
The Silent Organ
The Liver Doesn't Complain — Until It's Too Late
Your liver performs over 500 vital functions every single day. It filters your blood, metabolises alcohol and medications, produces bile for digestion, regulates blood sugar, stores vitamins and minerals, and synthesises proteins your body depends on. It is, by almost any measure, one of the hardest-working organs in the body.
And here's the thing most people don't know: the liver has no pain receptors. It cannot tell you when something is wrong. By the time liver disease causes symptoms — fatigue, jaundice, swelling, confusion — the damage is often already advanced. Three-quarters of people in the UK are diagnosed with liver disease at a late stage, when treatment options are severely limited.
The tragedy is that early-stage liver disease is largely reversible. The liver is one of the few organs with remarkable regenerative capacity — but only if problems are caught early enough. And a simple blood test is one of the most powerful tools for catching them.
Three-quarters of people are diagnosed with advanced liver disease when it is too late for effective intervention. If found early, the progression can be halted or reversed.
How Liver Disease Progresses
From Fatty Liver to Cirrhosis — A Journey Nobody Notices
Liver disease doesn't arrive overnight. It progresses through distinct, silent stages over years or even decades. Understanding this progression is what makes early testing so powerful — because the earlier you catch it, the more completely it can be reversed.
✓ Fully reversible
✓ Often reversible
⚠ Partially reversible
✗ Not reversible
✗ Life-threatening
Most people with fatty liver disease (now called MASLD — metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease) never progress beyond the first stage. But for those who do progress, the journey through inflammation, scarring, and potential cirrhosis is almost entirely silent — until it isn't.
This is why the British Liver Trust describes liver disease as a "silent killer." And it's why a blood test — which can flag early liver stress before it becomes liver damage — is so important.
A Real Story
Why "Nothing to Worry About" Isn't Good Enough
Stephen's Story
"After years of being told he had an abnormal liver, but that it was nothing to worry about, and with very little support or intervention, my dad passed away on 31st July 2024 from metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. He was just 62. The diagnosis four months earlier came completely out of the blue and it was too late to save him. This all could have been prevented. If my dad had been put under proper surveillance, we would have known his liver was getting worse, and his story could have had a very different ending."
— Sara Harding, speaking to the British Liver Trust, January 2025
Stephen's story is not an isolated case. The British Liver Trust found that 80% of areas in England have no effective pathway for early liver disease detection — meaning thousands of people are told not to worry about abnormal results, when in fact they needed monitoring and support.
This is the gap private blood testing fills. Not just getting a result — but understanding what it means, tracking it over time, and acting on it early enough to make a difference.
Who's At Risk
You Might Think This Doesn't Apply to You. It Probably Does.
Fatty liver disease used to be thought of as a condition affecting heavy drinkers or people who were significantly obese. That picture has completely changed. With 1 in 3 British adults now affected, MASLD is now understood as a condition of modern metabolic life — driven by diet, inactivity, insulin resistance, and inflammation.
Higher risk groups
Also worth testing if you have
Causes of liver disease deaths in the UK — 2023
Source: British Liver Trust, 2025. Alcoholic liver disease deaths have risen by over 93% since 2001.
The Blood Tests
What to Check — and What It All Means
A liver function test (LFT) is a panel of blood markers that reflects how well your liver is working. Here's what's included and why each one matters:
Liver enzyme reference ranges — standard vs optimal
| Marker | Normal Range | Borderline | Elevated (action needed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALT | <40 U/L (men) / <35 U/L (women) | 40–80 U/L | >80 U/L |
| AST | <40 U/L | 40–80 U/L | >80 U/L |
| GGT | <50 U/L (men) / <35 U/L (women) | 50–100 U/L | >100 U/L |
| Bilirubin | <17 µmol/L | 17–35 µmol/L | >35 µmol/L |
| Albumin | 35–50 g/L | 30–35 g/L | <30 g/L |
| ALP | 30–120 U/L | 120–200 U/L | >200 U/L |
Note: Ranges vary slightly between labs. Even results within range can be trending in the wrong direction — which is why regular testing matters, not just a single snapshot.
Beyond the LFT
The Additional Tests Worth Adding
A standard liver function test is a great start — but a comprehensive liver health picture includes a few additional markers:
The Good News
Early-Stage Fatty Liver Is Reversible. Here's How.
If your liver function tests come back elevated — particularly ALT and GGT — the most likely cause in an otherwise healthy person is fatty liver disease. And here's the genuinely encouraging news: in its early stages, it can be completely reversed through lifestyle changes alone.
No medication required. Just the right interventions, applied early enough.
Lose 5–10% of body weight (if applicable)
Weight loss is the single most effective intervention for fatty liver disease. Even a 5–10% reduction in body weight has been shown to significantly reduce liver fat and inflammation — and in many cases normalise liver enzymes entirely.
Reduce sugar and refined carbohydrates
Fructose — found in sugar, sweetened drinks, and ultra-processed foods — is particularly damaging to the liver, as it's processed almost entirely there. Reducing sugar intake directly reduces liver fat. This is the dietary change with the most evidence behind it.
Cut back on alcohol
The liver metabolises alcohol as a priority — and in doing so, temporarily suspends fat processing, which causes fat to accumulate. Even moderate regular drinking raises GGT and contributes to liver stress. Reducing alcohol has a rapid, measurable impact on liver enzymes.
Get moving — especially resistance training
Exercise reduces liver fat independently of weight loss. Both aerobic exercise and resistance training have been shown to lower ALT and reduce liver fat accumulation. Even 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week makes a significant difference.
Retest in 3–6 months
Liver enzymes respond relatively quickly to lifestyle changes. A follow-up blood test in 3–6 months will show whether your interventions are working — which is both motivating and clinically useful. If levels aren't improving, further investigation is warranted.
The liver is one of the most regenerative organs in the body. Caught early, fatty liver disease can be reversed completely — but you have to know it's there first.
Don't Wait for Symptoms That May Never Come
A liver function test is one of the simplest, most important health checks you can do — and most people have never had one. At Boost & Glow, we can help you get the right tests and understand what they mean.
Explore Boost & Glow → Ask Us a Question →This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you have concerns about your liver health, please speak to your GP. Do not stop or change any medications based on information in this blog without consulting a healthcare professional first. Always seek personalised advice from a qualified clinician regarding abnormal blood test results.
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