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Tribune News Network
Doha
Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan is beneficial for some patients with liver ailments such as fatty liver, according to Dr Mahmoud al Deraini, family doctor at the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC).
"Fasting helps the liverish reduce his weight," Dr Deraini explained, adding that if the fatty liver patient wants to have maximum benefit from fasting, he should avoid foods containing fat, as well as corn and olive oil in the preparation of food.
"Fatty Liver is of two types: the first one is simple and accompanied by abnormal liver enzymes, and the patient is allowed to fast; the second one is Inflammatory Fatty Liver, which comes with high liver enzymes, and the patient can fast on condition of no complications," he said.
He pointed out that liver patients are divided into three groups. The first category is those who suffer from chronic inflammation in the liver because of hepatitis B and C, or other chronic liver diseases, and they can fast with taking proper treatments as defined by the physician. This group includes patients who are treated with interferon injection, with drinking lot of water during the suhour.
The second group is patients who suffer from simple liver cirrhosis with normal liver functions. They are allowed to fast if there are no complications, Dr Deraini said.
The third group comprises patients with cirrhosis liver at a late stage and usually they are not allowed to fast, since they need therapy at certain times, he said, adding that patients with ascites, hepatic coma, blood vomiting and other complications of late fibrosis are not allowed to fast at all.
