Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease

Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are two diseases that are common in the general population. To date, many studies have been conducted and demonstrate a direct link between NAFLD and CVD, but the exact mechanisms for this complex relationship are not well established. A systematic search of the PubMed database revealed that several common mechanisms are involved in many of the local and systemic manifestations of NAFLD and lead to an increased cardiovascular risk. The possible mechanisms linking NAFLD and CVD include inflammation, oxidative stress, insulin resistance, ectopic adipose tissue distribution, dyslipidemia, endothelial dysfunction, and adiponectin, among others. The clinical implication is that patients with NAFLD are at an increased risk of CVD and should undergo periodic cardiovascular risk assessment.

Keywords: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Cardiovascular disease; Metabolic syndrome; Risk assessment

Core tip: The link between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) should be carefully evaluated in future research, which represents an intriguing field of investigation. A better understanding of the role of inflammation, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance, among other mechanisms, may be necessary to clarify the pathogenesis of NAFLD and CVD, and thereby contribute to the development of new therapies.