Food poisoning is a common problem in the summer when high temperatures and humidity create conditions for bacteria to grow quickly in food. For people with fatty liver, this risk can become more serious because liver function has been affected.
The liver is an organ that plays an important role in the body's metabolism and detoxification process. This organ helps process nutrients, neutralize toxins and support the immune system. However, in people with fatty liver, the amount of fat accumulated in liver cells can gradually reduce these functions.
According to Dr. Pawan Rawal, Senior Director of the Department of Gastroenterology at Medanta Gurugram Hospital (India), in people with fatty liver, the liver's function of processing and detoxifying is impaired. Therefore, when eating contaminated food or water sources, the liver will have to work harder to fight harmful agents, increasing the risk of health effects even in cases of mild food poisoning.
Summer is a time when bacteria easily develop strongly in food stored improperly, food left for a long time, street food or polluted water sources. Agents such as Salmonella, E. coli or hepatitis A and E viruses can all increase the risk of gastrointestinal infections.
A 2023 study published in the journal Touch Endocrinology showed that in patients with fatty liver, food-related infections can increase inflammatory responses, cause dehydration, electrolyte disorders and affect metabolism. This risk is higher in people who also have diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol or high blood pressure.
Dehydration is also a worrying issue in the summer. Nausea, diarrhea or excessive sweating can reduce blood flow to the liver and make the inflammation worse. In addition, consuming a lot of sugary drinks, alcohol, or processed foods also increases the burden on the liver.
To reduce the risk of food poisoning, people with fatty liver should eat cooked food and drink boiled water, properly preserve food and limit eating in unsanitary restaurants. Washing hands regularly, avoiding eating raw food or leaving it outdoors for too long is also very necessary.
In addition, patients should supplement enough water, coconut water or liquids to help balance electrolytes to support the function of the liver and kidneys in the hot season.
Experts note that if symptoms such as prolonged vomiting, jaundice, severe abdominal pain, fever or confusion appear after food poisoning, patients need to see a doctor early because these may be signs of liver-related complications.
