Almost 8-13% of women of reproductive age currently suffer from PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome often known as PCOS. Though it is generally considered a disorder that generates menstrual irregularities among women, it is a multi-spectrum disorder that affects the body at various levels. It hampers your hormone levels, especially androgens and insulin. It also creates irregularity in menstruation and can affect your physical appearance by weight gain, obesity, an increase in facial hairs, discoloration of the neck, and even acne. Irregular menstruation and lack of ovulation can in turn end up in infertility too. Moreover, research studies have shown that 38% of patients suffering from PCOS, also have Non- Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disorder (NAFLD). It is a condition where fat builds up in your liver. This is not caused by heavy alcohol use. NAFLD is often asymptomatic and often gets diagnosed accidentally while doing any investigations like Ultrasound, MRI, or CT scan.
This is often described as a lifestyle disorder where unhealthy lifestyle adaptations contribute to the flaring up of the disease. Obesity and insulin resistance are mainly considered the contributing factors for the PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome associated with fatty liver. Managing daily life using healthy substitutes of diets and habits can control the progress of this disease.
‘Man is what he eats’ might be the proverb that everyone has at least heard once in a lifetime but never puts into practice. Implementing the proverb in daily life is an easy way to tackle and control this disease. The patient is usually advised to avoid food items that are deep-fried in oil and are heavy to digest. The use of red meat is also prohibited. Vegetables rich in fiber, antioxidants, and other nutrients that make up liver health should be made a large part of the diet. Fruits that provide a wide range of vitamins and minerals can also help in proper digestion and reduce the inflammation that takes place in the liver cells. They are advised to include foods like porridge, khichdi, and whole grains in their diet. Consumption of legumes has been shown to help lower blood glucose and triglycerides in individuals with obesity. Fishes including salmon, sardines, tuna, and trout that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids may have a benefit on fatty liver as it can reduce the inflammation and fat levels in the liver. It can also boost protective High Density Lipoprotein cholesterol thus lowering triglyceride levels. Avoiding the usage of saturated fats like butter, and cheese and the food products made out of them like hamburgers and pizzas can help in controlling this disease. A full stomach is a strict no to such patients. They are encouraged to have frequent meals but in small quantities. The patients must avoid the usage of alcohol, added sugars, excessive salt, and foods that lack fiber like Maida products.
The Patient should also get regular exercises daily for at least 30 minutes. Pranayama and Yogasana are also beneficial in managing fatty liver due to PCOS. Kapalbhati Pranayama, Dhanurasana, Ardha Matsyendrasana, Gomughasana, and Naukasana help in improving digestion, improving liver function, and also regulating hormones like insulin.
After focusing more on the changes that a patient needs to bring in her life, we should also consider the medications that can indeed help in managing this multi-spectrum disorder. As a primary treatment, Virechana is suggested for the patient, which is the best shodhana treatment for liver ailments. Decoctions like Guduchyadi kashaya, Vasaguduchyadi kashaya, Panchatiktaka kashaya, Mridwikadi kashaya, and Drakshadi kashaya are found to be effective in clinical practices. Tablets like Siva gutika, Hinguvachadi gutika, and Shaddharanam gulika are also used by various eminent physicians. Drakshadi rasayanam and Drakshadi lehyam are highly useful. Choorna like Trivrit choorna, Kaidarya choorna and Katurohini choorna are also often common in the prescriptions. Buttermilk can be given for drinking, which can also be included as a modified diet form. Katurohini, Bhunimba, Pippali, and Triphala are also found to be effective in this condition. Pippali vardhamana rasayana, a special mode of treatment where we increase the dose of Pippali in an ascending manner is also widely practiced all over India and is found to yield better results.
If not treated at the proper time, the Nonalcoholic fatty liver in PCOS patients can progress into a condition known as NASH (Non-Alcoholic SteatoHepatitis). It is much more severe and is marked by inflammation of liver tissues that may progress to scarring and irreversible damage.
PCOS and the associated fatty liver can be easily prevented just by following simple changes in life. It is high time that we eradicate unhealthy lifestyles and laziness from our lives to fight such preventable diseases. Rather than going behind the fast pace of life and taking the easiest way of living through the not-sohealthy practices, it is the responsibility of every individual to focus on themselves more. It is always better to slow down a bit, enjoy the little joys of life, and beat this multi-spectrum lifestyle disorder so that it doesn’t become a burden that affects the quality of life of each individual. If you are already suffering from this disease, rather than neglecting it as a common finding in the investigations, take it as a red flag from the body and at the earliest consult a doctor and get it treated. Trying to Google it out can only create confusion and anxiety in the mind. Every individual varies and personalized treatment plans must be adopted while treating such patients.
In a nutshell, PCOS along with NAFLD is the typical example of the saying ‘Prevention is better than cure’. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.
