Fighting liver fat

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a chronic liver disease which is closely associated with components of the metabolic syndrome. Its high clinical burden results from the growing prevalence, inherent cardiometabolic risk and potential of progressing to cirrhosis. Patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease show variable rates of disease progression through a histological spectrum ranging from steatosis to steatohepatitis with or without fibrosis. The presence and severity of fibrosis are the most important prognostic factors in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This necessitates risk stratification of patients by fibrosis stage using combinations of non-invasive methods, such as composite scoring systems and/or transient elastography. A multidisciplinary approach to treatment is advised, centred on amelioration of cardiometabolic risk through lifestyle and pharmacological interventions. Despite the current lack of licensed, liver-targeted pharmacotherapy, several promising agents are undergoing late-phase clinical trials to complement standard management in patients with advanced disease. This review summarises the current concepts in diagnosis and disease progression of non-alcoholic liver disease, focusing on pragmatic approaches to risk assessment and management in both primary and secondary care settings.

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Modifiers of Liver-Related Manifestation in the Course of NAFLD

Current Pharmaceutical Design ◽

10.2174/1381612826666200310142803 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (10) ◽

pp. 1062-1078 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Patrik Nasr ◽

Julia Blomdahl ◽

Stergios Kechagias ◽

Mattias Ekstedt

Keyword(s):

Liver Disease ◽

Fatty Liver ◽

Disease Progression ◽

Fatty Liver Disease ◽

Strong Association ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽

The Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Progressive Potential ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease affecting approximately 25% of the global population. There is a strong association between the severity of NAFLD and the components of the metabolic syndrome. NAFLD is also independently associated with cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The progressive potential of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is indisputable today, and the histological spectrum of NAFLD ranges from isolated steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), with risk of developing fibrosis and subsequent cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. There is a substantial inter-patient variation in disease progression, therefore, this review will focus on potential modifiers of fibrosis progression, development of liver cirrhosis, decompensation and liver-related mortality. The potential drivers of disease progression that is discussed are; T2DM and Insulin Resistance, body weight, alcohol consumption, genetics (including HFE and alfa-1-antitrypsin) as well as histological features predictive of disease progression.

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Healthy PNPLA3 Risk Allele Carriers Present with Unexpected Body Fat Composition. A Study of One ousand Subjects

Journal of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases ◽

10.15403/jgld-1276 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 33-37 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Agnieszka Kempinska-Podhorodecka ◽

Marcin Krawczyk ◽

Marta Klak ◽

Malgorzata Blatkiewicz ◽

Frank Lammert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Liver Disease ◽

Fatty Liver ◽

Fatty Liver Disease ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽

The Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Anthropometric Characteristics ◽

The Common ◽

Total Fat ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Introduction: The common PNPLA3 (adiponutrin) variant p.I148M represents a major genetic driver of progression in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is commonly associated with traits of the metabolic syndrome, therefore it is mostly suspected in obese individuals. Here, we investigate the association between the PNPLA3 variant and anthropometric traits in a cohort of healthy individuals.Patients and methods: We recruited 1,000 (500 females; age 18 - 66 years) healthy blood donors. The PNPLA3 variant was genotyped using TaqMan assays. All individuals were phenotyped with respect to anthropometric characteristics. We also determined the percentage of total fat (F%) and active tissue (TA%) of body weight.Results: Healthy carriers of the PNPLA3 [IM] and [MM] genotypes, although not differing in height from individuals with the genotype [II], displayed significantly lower body weight and lower BMI (both P = 0.005), higher TA% (P = 0.03) but lower F% (P = 0.03) and smaller waist, chest and shin circumferences (all P < 0.05). Separate analysis for males and females demonstrated an association between the [IM] and [MM] genotypes and higher TA% but lower F% (P = 0.04) in females. In males, BMI and total weight were significantly (P = 0.04) lower among carriers of the [M] allele.Discussion: Healthy individuals carrying the prosteatotic PNPLA3 allele p.I48M may be leaner as compared to the carriers of the common allele. Hence in clinical practice they might be overlooked since they do not necessarily present with the anthropometric characteristics commonly associated with severe hepatic steatosis.Abbreviations: ATX - autotaxin; BMI - body mass index; F% - total fat of body weight in %; Fkg - total fat of body weight in kilograms; GWAS - genome-wide association study; LPA - lysophosphatidic acid; NAFLD, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; NASH - non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; PA - phosphatidic acid; PNPLA3-patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 3 (adiponutrin); TA% - active tissue of body weight in %; TAkg - active tissue of body weight in kilograms; WHR - waist-to-hip ratio.

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Quantification of Liver Fat by MRI-PDFF Imaging in Patients with Suspected Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Its Correlation with Metabolic Syndrome, Liver Function Test and Ultrasonography

Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hepatology ◽

10.1016/j.jceh.2020.11.004 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Gajanan A. Rodge ◽

Mahesh K. Goenka ◽

Usha Goenka ◽

Shivaraj Afzalpurkar ◽

Bhavik B. Shah

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Liver Disease ◽

Liver Function ◽

Fatty Liver ◽

Liver Function Test ◽

Fatty Liver Disease ◽

Liver Fat ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽

Function Test ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

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Relationship between Muscle Mass and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Biology ◽

10.3390/biology10020122 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 122

Author(s):

Jun-Hyuk Lee ◽

Hye-Sun Lee ◽

Byoung-Kwon Lee ◽

Yu-Jin Kwon ◽

Ji-Won Lee

Keyword(s):

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Liver Disease ◽

Fatty Liver ◽

Muscle Mass ◽

Fatty Liver Disease ◽

Skeletal Muscle Mass ◽

Liver Fat ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Although sarcopenia is known to be a risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), whether NAFLD is a risk factor for the development of sarcopenia is not clear. We investigated relationships between NAFLD and low skeletal muscle mass index (LSMI) using three different datasets. Participants were classified into LSMI and normal groups. LSMI was defined as a body mass index (BMI)-adjusted appendicular skeletal muscle mass <0.789 in men and <0.512 in women or as the sex-specific lowest quintile of BMI-adjusted total skeletal muscle mass. NAFLD was determined according to NAFLD liver fat score or abdominal ultrasonography. The NAFLD groups showed a higher hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for LSMI than the normal groups (HRs = 1.21, 95% CIs = 1.05–1.40). The LSMI groups also showed a higher HRs with 95% CIs for NAFLD than normal groups (HRs = 1.56, 95% CIs = 1.38–1.78). Participants with NAFLD had consistently less skeletal muscle mass over 12 years of follow-up. In conclusion, LSMI and NAFLD showed a relationship. Maintaining muscle mass should be emphasized in the management of NAFLD.

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Mechanisms of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in the Metabolic Syndrome. A Narrative Review

Antioxidants ◽

10.3390/antiox10020270 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 270

Author(s):

Luca Rinaldi ◽

Pia Clara Pafundi ◽

Raffaele Galiero ◽

Alfredo Caturano ◽

Maria Vittoria Morone ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Liver Disease ◽

Fatty Liver ◽

Fatty Liver Disease ◽

Smoking Habit ◽

Lifestyle Modifications ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽

The Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic syndrome (MS) are two different entities sharing common clinical and physio-pathological features, with insulin resistance (IR) as the most relevant. Large evidence leads to consider it as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, regardless of age, sex, smoking habit, cholesterolemia, and other elements of MS. Therapeutic strategies remain still unclear, but lifestyle modifications (diet, physical exercise, and weight loss) determine an improvement in IR, MS, and both clinical and histologic liver picture. NAFLD and IR are bidirectionally correlated and, consequently, the development of pre-diabetes and diabetes is the most direct consequence at the extrahepatic level. In turn, type 2 diabetes is a well-known risk factor for multiorgan damage, including an involvement of cardiovascular system, kidney and peripheral nervous system. The increased MS incidence worldwide, above all due to changes in diet and lifestyle, is associated with an equally significant increase in NAFLD, with a subsequent rise in both morbidity and mortality due to both metabolic, hepatic and cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, the slowdown in the increase of the “bad company” constituted by MS and NAFLD, with all the consequent direct and indirect costs, represents one of the main challenges for the National Health Systems.

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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; a part of the metabolic syndrome in the renal transplant recipient and possible cause of an allograft dysfunction

Medical Hypotheses ◽

10.1016/j.mehy.2013.10.030 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 82 (1) ◽

pp. 36-39 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

I. Mikolasevic ◽

S. Racki ◽

V. Lukenda ◽

M. Pavletic-Persic ◽

S. Milic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Liver Disease ◽

Renal Transplant ◽

Transplant Recipient ◽

Fatty Liver ◽

Fatty Liver Disease ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽

The Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Possible Cause ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: the hepatic consequence of obesity and the metabolic syndrome

Proceedings of The Nutrition Society ◽

10.1017/s0029665110000030 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 69 (2) ◽

pp. 211-220 ◽

Cited By ~ 132

Author(s):

J. Bernadette Moore

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Liver Disease ◽

Fatty Liver ◽

Fatty Liver Disease ◽

Response To Treatment ◽

Health Concern ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽

The Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now the most common liver disease in both adults and children worldwide. As a disease spectrum, NAFLD may progress from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis, advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. An estimated 20–35% of the general population has steatosis, 10% of whom will develop the more progressive non-alcoholic steatohepatitis associated with markedly increased risk of cardiovascular- and liver-related mortality. Development of NAFLD is strongly linked to components of the metabolic syndrome including obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and type 2 diabetes. The recognition that NAFLD is an independent risk factor for CVD is a major public health concern. There is a great need for a sensitive non-invasive test for the early detection and assessment of the stage of NAFLD that could also be used to monitor response to treatment. The cellular and molecular aetiology of NAFLD is multi-factorial; genetic polymorphisms influencing NAFLD have been identified and nutrition is a modifiable environmental factor influencing NAFLD progression. Weight loss through diet and exercise is the primary recommendation in the clinical management of NAFLD. The application of systems biology to the identification of NAFLD biomarkers and factors involved in NAFLD progression is an area of promising research.

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Pediatric Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/Oboljenje Ne-Alkoholne Masne Jetre U Pedijatriji

Journal of Medical Biochemistry ◽

10.2478/jomb-2014-0059 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 34 (1) ◽

pp. 3-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Edgard Delvin ◽

Natasha Patey ◽

Josée Dubois ◽

Melanie Henderson ◽

Émile Lévy

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Liver Disease ◽

Fatty Liver ◽

Fatty Liver Disease ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽

The Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Major Increase ◽

Near Future ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ◽

Early Atherosclerosis

Summary The rapidly increasing prevalence of childhood obesity and its associated co-morbidities such as hypertriglyceridemia, hyper-insulinemia, hypertension, early atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are major public health concerns in many countries. Therefore the trends in child and adolescent obesity should be closely monitored over time, as in the near future, we may anticipate a major increase of young adults with the stigmata of the metabolic syndrome, and of the related non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), that may lead to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

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