Linking To And Embedding Metabolic Mind’s “The Hidden Metabolic Cause of Fatty Liver Disease” With Additional Resources

Posted on March 10, 2026 by Tom Wade MD

In addition to today’s resource, please review:

Liver Imaging from StatPearls
Shahrzad Azizaddini; Nisha Mani. Last Update: February 20, 2023.

Google Search: What is the best imaging method to diagnose liver disease?

Today, I review, link to, and embed Metabolic Mind‘s “The Hidden Metabolic Cause of Fatty Liver Disease”.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Introduction to Drs. Amy Goss and Karen Jerome-Zapadka and their work in the research and treatment of MASLD.

2:25 – What is fatty liver disease (now known as steatotic liver disease) and why is it such a problem?

4:53 – The history of (non-alcoholic) fatty liver disease and why the name has changed.

6:34 – Dr. Amy Goss’s experience with researching fatty liver in the pediatric population.

9:11 – Does carbohydrate reduction work better for fatty liver than other dietary interventions?

13:39 – How did Dr. Jerome-Zapadka first learn that low carb could be an effective treatment for fatty liver?

17:05 – What other treatments are there for fatty liver and how do they compare to low carb/ketogenic therapy?

19:57 – Is ketogenic therapy catching on with clinicians for treating fatty liver disease?

26:16 – What should someone do if they are diagnosed with MASLD and gets advised to cut calories and fat?

28:53 – How do other non-food-related metabolic practices affect MASLD?

30:56 – Where to hear more from Dr. Goss and Dr. Jerome-Zapadka.

The Hidden Metabolic Cause of Fatty Liver Disease

Mar 9, 2026 Metabolic Mind Podcast

Can you reverse fatty liver disease with a ketogenic diet? Fatty liver disease is now one of the fastest-growing liver conditions in the world, affecting roughly 30% of adults and an increasing number of children. And in many cases, it’s driven by metabolic dysfunction and insulin resistance. In this conversation, Dr. Bret Scher speaks with Dr. Amy Goss (University of Alabama at Birmingham) and Dr. Karen Jerome-Zapadka (Trajectory Health Partners) about the growing epidemic of metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and why carbohydrate restriction and ketogenic nutrition may be powerful tools for addressing it.
In this interview, you’ll learn:
  • What MASLD (formerly NAFLD) is and why it’s becoming so common
  • How insulin resistance and excess carbohydrates contribute to fatty liver
  • New research showing how carbohydrate restriction can reduce liver fat
  • Why ketogenic and low-carb diets may improve liver metabolism beyond weight loss
  • The clinical experience of reversing fatty liver through metabolic therapy
  • Why lifestyle approaches often receive less attention than medications

Dr. Amy Goss and her team at the University of Alabama at Birmingham are currently conducting a large NIH-funded clinical trial investigating how carbohydrate restriction affects liver fat and insulin sensitivity in adolescents with fatty liver disease.

At the same time, Dr. Karen Jerome-Zapadka is applying these metabolic principles in clinical practice at Trajectory Health Partners, helping patients reverse steatotic liver disease through carbohydrate reduction and comprehensive metabolic care. Together, their research and real-world clinical experience are helping advance a deeper understanding of how targeting metabolic dysfunction may transform the way fatty liver disease is treated.
Curious about the safety of ketogenic therapy? Visit our Is Keto Safe topic page to see all of our top content on the topic: https://www.metabolicmind.org/resourc… 🔎 
Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at https://metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode. #MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #MASLD #FattyLiver
Expert Featured:

Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.

Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/
About us: Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them. Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.
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