Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Non-Obese Individuals: Prevalence, Pathogenesis and Treatment

Emilio Molina-Molina; Marcin Krawczyk; Ewa Stachowska; Frank Lammert; Piero Portincasa

doi:10.1016/j.clinre.2019.04.005

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Non-Obese Individuals: Prevalence, Pathogenesis and Treatment

Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol. 2019 Nov;43(6):638-645. doi: 10.1016/j.clinre.2019.04.005. Epub 2019 Jun 10.

Authors

Emilio Molina-Molina¹, Marcin Krawczyk², Ewa Stachowska³, Frank Lammert⁴, Piero Portincasa⁵

Affiliations

¹ Clinica Medica "A. Murri", Department of Biomedical Sciences & Human Oncology, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy.
² Department of Medicine II, Saarland University Medical Center, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany; Laboratory of Metabolic Liver Diseases, Center for Preclinical Research, Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
³ Department of Biochemistry and Human Nutrition, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-210 Szczecin, Poland.
⁴ Department of Medicine II, Saarland University Medical Center, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany.
⁵ Clinica Medica "A. Murri", Department of Biomedical Sciences & Human Oncology, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy. Electronic address: piero.portincasa@uniba.it.

PMID: 31196707
DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2019.04.005

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) parallels comorbidities such as metabolic syndrome, dyslipidaemia or diabetes. Although NAFLD is very prevalent in overweight-obese individuals (i.e. body mass index ≥25 kg/m2), recent studies point to the presence of NAFLD in non-obese individuals, for both the Asian (<25 kg/m2) and Caucasian (<30 kg/m2) populations. This paper discusses the pathogenic pathways and current treatment options of NAFLD in non-obese populations. In this respect, non-obese subjects also need to undergo the medical screening for NAFLD. Across the scientific community, we aim to promote the advancement of knowledge in this emerging field.

Keywords: Body weight; Fat; Genetics; NAFLD.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease* / epidemiology
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease* / etiology
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease* / therapy
Prevalence