Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: The Emerging Burden in Cardiometabolic and Renal Diseases

• Published in: Diabetes & metabolism journal Vol. 41; no. 6; pp. 430 - 437
• Main Authors: Han, Eugene, Lee, Yong-ho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Korean Diabetes Association / Daehan Dangnyobyeong Hakoe 01.12.2017; Korean Diabetes Association; 대한당뇨병학회
• Subjects: Arrhythmias, cardiac; Atherosclerosis; Blood pressure; Calcification; Cardiovascular disease; Coronary vessels; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Drug dosages; High density lipoprotein; Hypertension; Inflammation; Insulin resistance; Kidney diseases; Lipids; Liver cancer; Liver cirrhosis; Liver diseases; Low density lipoprotein; Metabolic disorders; Metabolic syndrome; Metabolism; Mortality; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Obesity; Regression analysis; Renal insufficiency; Review; Risk factors; Sarcopenia; Stroke; Veins & arteries; 내과학; Hypertension; Obesity; Arrhythmias, cardiac; Renal insufficiency; Stroke; Diabetes mellitus; Atherosclerosis; Insulin resistance; Metabolism; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
• ISSN: 2233-6079; 2233-6087
• DOI: 10.4093/dmj.2017.41.6.430

As the number of individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has increased, the influence of NAFLD on other metabolic diseases has been highlighted. Accumulating epidemiologic evidence indicates that NAFLD not only affects the liver but also increases the risk of extra-hepatic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, hypertension, cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases, and chronic kidney disease. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, an advanced type of NAFLD, can aggravate these inter-organ relationships and lead to poorer outcomes. NAFLD induces insulin resistance and exacerbates systemic chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, which leads to organ dysfunction in extra-hepatic tissues. Although more research is needed to identify the pathophysiological mechanisms and causal relationship between NAFLD and cardiometabolic and renal diseases, screening for heart, brain, and kidney diseases, risk assessment for diabetes, and a multidisciplinary approach for managing these patients should be highly encouraged.