11/10/2025
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Seafarers Warned: Fatty Liver and High SGPT Can Lead to Liver Cancer, Experts Say I MARINO PH
Manila, Philippines — October 2025
A 45-year-old Filipino seafarer, recently declared unfit for duty, was diagnosed with advanced liver cancer after years of elevated SGPT (ALT) levels and a long-ignored fatty liver diagnosis. His doctor revealed that the illness had silently worsened while he continued working onboard—living off processed meals, lacking exercise, and without regular medical checks. What began as a “minor” fatty liver finding eventually turned deadly. His case has now become a warning for others across the maritime industry.
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A Silent but Deadly Progression
Medical experts now warn that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)—often thought harmless—can quietly advance into fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or liver cancer.
Recent studies reveal that patients with fatty liver and persistently high liver enzymes have a 17-fold higher risk of developing liver cancer compared to those with normal liver function.
Once the disease reaches cirrhosis, the liver damage becomes irreversible, leaving only long-term treatment or transplantation as options. Many cases are detected too late—when the patient already shows severe fatigue, jaundice, or swelling.
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Why Seafarers Are at Greater Risk
The working conditions at sea put seafarers in a vulnerable position for liver-related diseases:
-Processed and high-fat ship food with limited nutrition
-Little to no physical activity due to confined ship spaces
-Chronic stress, irregular sleep, and long working hours
-Delayed medical intervention while onboard
These factors, compounded over years of deployment, create a silent health hazard. Maritime doctors confirm that more Filipino seafarers are now being disqualified from sea service after medical exams revealed high SGPT levels and liver damage—some already diagnosed with liver cancer upon further testing.
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An Industry Wake-Up Call
Health professionals and maritime authorities are urging manning agencies and shipowners to take proactive steps:
-Enforce comprehensive liver function tests during pre-employment and annual medical exams
-Promote nutrition and fitness programs onboard
-Conduct awareness campaigns on liver health and lifestyle risks
-Ensure follow-up care for seafarers with abnormal SGPT or ultrasound results
Experts emphasize that preventive healthcare should be treated as a safety measure, not merely a welfare concern. “Early detection can save both lives and careers,” one maritime physician noted.
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Early Detection Saves Lives
Doctors stress that fatty liver disease is reversible in its early stages through diet, exercise, and regular medical monitoring. Seafarers are advised not to ignore medical findings such as “mild fatty liver” or “slightly high SGPT.”
Healthy meals, hydration, avoiding alcohol, and maintaining an active lifestyle—even through simple onboard exercises—can help protect the liver from irreversible damage.
But if left unchecked, the progression is often silent and deadly.
