Fatty Liver Disease / MASLD

Causes & Risk Factors

MASLD is closely tied to metabolic health, with the following recognized risk factors:

•  Obesity, particularly abdominal obesity.

•  Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance.

•  Metabolic syndrome and its individual components.

•  Abnormal lipid levels, particularly elevated triglycerides.

•  Sedentary lifestyle and diet high in refined sugars and fats.

•  Certain medications and, less commonly, other metabolic or genetic conditions.

Symptoms & When to Test

Fatty liver disease is often asymptomatic, particularly in early stages, and is frequently detected incidentally through imaging or blood tests performed for other reasons.

•  Often asymptomatic, especially in earlier stages

•  Mild fatigue or vague right upper abdominal discomfort in some patients

•  Usually detected incidentally on imaging performed for another reason, or through elevated liver enzymes on routine blood testing

•  In advanced disease (cirrhosis), more specific symptoms of liver dysfunction may develop

When Should You Consider Testing?

Testing may be considered in individuals with fatty liver detected on imaging, obesity or increased waist circumference, diabetes or prediabetes, high triglycerides or cholesterol, elevated liver enzymes, metabolic syndrome, or unexplained abnormal liver function tests.

Why Tests Are Combined

Because fatty liver disease is fundamentally a metabolic condition affecting the liver, testing combines direct liver injury markers (ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, bilirubin) with broader metabolic assessment (HbA1c, lipid profile) to characterize both the liver involvement and its underlying metabolic drivers.

Albumin and platelet count provide information about liver synthetic function and can offer early clues about more advanced disease, since these can become abnormal as fatty liver disease progresses toward fibrosis or cirrhosis.

Viral hepatitis screening is included to exclude viral causes of liver abnormality as an alternative or additional explanation, since a patient can have both fatty liver disease and a separate liver condition simultaneously.

Preparation requirements vary by specific test — please follow the instructions provided by your doctor or NPL for the tests ordered.

Home Sample Collection

NPL offers convenient home sample collection for Fatty Liver Disease / MASLD blood tests, so you don't need to visit a lab in person.

→ Book your test online, via the NPL app, or by calling +977 1 5970147 and select a convenient time slot for home sample collection.

→ A certified and experienced NPL phlebotomist visits your home at the scheduled time, following strict hygiene and safety protocols.

→ Your sample is transported under controlled, monitored conditions to NPL's NABL ACCREDITED UNDER ISO 15189:2022 laboratory for processing.

→ Your digital report is delivered securely to your phone or email, along with access to download and share it as needed.

When to See a Doctor

•  Fatty liver detected on imaging performed for any reason

•  Elevated liver enzymes on routine or incidental blood testing

•  Known obesity, diabetes, or metabolic syndrome with liver-related concerns

•  Unexplained abnormal liver function tests