Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, an inflammation of the liver associated with the accumulation of fat in the organ that is similar to a condition found in people who drink too much alcohol, is setting off alarm bells in Japan.
Some physicians refer to NASH, as it is known, as a new lifestyle-related disease. Difficult to spot because there are no symptoms, it is being detected with increasing frequency in people with certain medical conditions, including diabetes mellitus and obesity.
NASH will probably develop into cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer, according to experts.