Samanta A, Sen Sarma M. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: A silent pandemic. World J Hepatol 2024; 16(4): 511-516 [PMID: 38689742 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v16.i4.511]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Moinak Sen Sarma, MBBS, MD, Adjunct Associate Professor, Doctor, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226014, India. moinaksen@yahoo.com
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
Editorial
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Hepatol. Apr 27, 2024; 16(4): 511-516 Published online Apr 27, 2024. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v16.i4.511
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: A silent pandemic
Arghya Samanta, Moinak Sen Sarma
Arghya Samanta, Moinak Sen Sarma, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow 226014, India
Author contributions: Samanta A did the literature review and wrote the original manuscript; Sen Sarma M reviewed and revised the manuscript, did critical analysis; All authors approved the final draft of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflict of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Moinak Sen Sarma, MBBS, MD, Adjunct Associate Professor, Doctor, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226014, India. moinaksen@yahoo.com
Received: January 23, 2024 Revised: March 5, 2024 Accepted: April 7, 2024 Published online: April 27, 2024
Abstract
The worldwide epidemiology of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is showing an upward trend, parallel to the rising trend of metabolic syndrome, owing to lifestyle changes. The pathogenesis of NAFLD has not been fully understood yet. Therefore, NAFLD has emerged as a public health concern in the field of hepatology and metabolisms worldwide. Recent changes in the nomenclature from NAFLD to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease have brought a positive outlook changes in the understanding of the disease process and doctor-patient communication. Lifestyle changes are the main treatment modality. Recently, clinical trial using drugs that target ‘insulin resistance’ which is the driving force behind NAFLD, have shown promising results. Further translational research is needed to better understand the underlying pathophysiological mechanism of NAFLD which may open newer avenues of therapeutic targets. The role of gut dysbiosis in etiopathogenesis and use of fecal microbiota modification in the treatment should be studied extensively. Prevention of this silent epidemic by spreading awareness and early intervention should be our priority.
Core Tip: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is often considered the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. The new nomenclature of “metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease” emphasizes the role of disordered metabolism in the pathogenesis. Weight reduction by lifestyle changes is the mainstay of treatment.
