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©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Pharmacol. Dec 9, 2014; 3(4): 209-216
Published online Dec 9, 2014. doi: 10.5497/wjp.v3.i4.209
Published online Dec 9, 2014. doi: 10.5497/wjp.v3.i4.209
Association of serum bilirubin and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A feasible therapeutic avenue?
Mohamed S Anwar, John F Dillon, Michael H Miller, Gut Group, Medical Research Institute, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, United Kingdom
Author contributions: Anwar MS, Dillon JF and Miller MH discussed and conceived the idea of this systematic review; Anwar MS and Miller MH performed the literature search and collated the data; all three authors wrote the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Dr. Mohamed S Anwar, Gut Group, Medical Research Institute, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Nethergate, Dundee DD1 9SY, United Kingdom. mohamed-anwar@doctors.org.uk
Telephone: + 44-1382-632334 Fax: +44-1382-632098
Received: May 21, 2014
Revised: October 15, 2014
Accepted: October 23, 2014
Published online: December 9, 2014
Processing time: 204 Days and 15.4 Hours
Revised: October 15, 2014
Accepted: October 23, 2014
Published online: December 9, 2014
Processing time: 204 Days and 15.4 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: This systematic review summarises and highlights the deficiencies in the current studies on the association of serum bilirubin with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It explores the potential underpinning of the mechanistic association of NAFLD with bilirubin. Potential novel therapeutic avenues of bilirubin are explored in NAFLD, a common condition with oxidative damage as a core pathogenetic factor. Although this area of study is still in its infancy, this review is a timely summary of current key studies in this subject area and provides an up to date thought perspective with focus on future direction and potential therapeutic application.