Published online Aug 16, 2021. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i23.6654
Peer-review started: March 12, 2021
First decision: April 17, 2021
Revised: April 25, 2021
Accepted: June 22, 2021
Article in press: June 22, 2021
Published online: August 16, 2021
Processing time: 146 Days and 1.5 Hours
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease with a pathogenesis that has not been fully elucidated. With the development of the theory of the gut-liver axis and the deepening of related research, the role of the intestinal tract in the pathogenesis of NAFLD has been investigated more. Intestinal microbiota, intestinal metabolites, and intestinal epithelial and immune-based barriers constitute the intestinal environment, which uses crosstalk to maintain the homeostasis of the intestinal environment. This paper reviews the progress in the study of intestinal microbiota, intestinal environment, and NAFLD and suggests that repair of intestinal functional balance may be a new idea for early prevention and intervention of NAFLD.
Core Tip: Intestinal microbiota, intestinal metabolites, the intestinal epithelial barrier, and the immune barrier constitute the intestinal environment. The importance of intestinal homeostasis in the occurrence and development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been shown. Intestinal microbiota plays a leading role in maintaining the balance of the intestinal environment, but the complex interaction mechanism has not been elucidated fully. This article reviews the current research from the perspective of intestinal homeostasis and proposes that the repair of intestinal functional balance may be a new idea for early prevention and intervention of NAFLD.