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A new global analysis published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology reports that cases of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) have surged 143% since 1990, reaching an estimated 1.3 billion people in 2023, according to the study, as reported by registered dietitian Molly Knudsen. The condition, driven by metabolic risk factors including high fasting plasma glucose, high body mass index (BMI), and smoking, is projected to affect 1.8 billion people by 2050 unless interventions are implemented, researchers stated. Liver cancer cases are expected to nearly double from 870,000 in 2022 to 1.52 million by 2050, with MASLD identified as...

Aerobic exercise and a high capacity for exercise may protect against metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), also known as fatty liver disease, by increasing the conversion of cholesterol into bile acids, according to a new study. MASLD is a chronic condition in which excessive fat is stored in the liver. This new study offers insights: Researchers propose that exercise prevents or reduces fatty liver, in part, by improving bile acid metabolism. The most prominent way cholesterol is removed from the body is by its conversion to bile acids, which aid the digestion of fat and trigger signals that improve...

A physician scientist is making strides in understanding the molecular origins of fatty liver disease, a leading cause of liver failure. By identifying the critical role the urea cycle plays in its development, his findings could pave the way for new medications to treat this currently incurable disease. In a study, Brian DeBosch, MD, Ph.D., uncovered a critical link between defects in the urea cycle, a key process in detoxifying ammonia in the body, and the development of fatty liver disease. The study found that these urea cycle defects lead to secondary impairment in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, a...

Researchers are investigating the effects ellagic acid, an antioxidant found in some fruits and vegetables, could have on halting and potentially reversing the damage caused by fatty liver disease. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the physiological manifestation of obesity in the liver. The prevalence of NAFLD has increased from 25.24% in 2015 to 29.38% in 2021, and this condition now accounts for 45.8% of all cases of chronic-liver-disease-related deaths worldwide. There currently exists no treatment for the long-term management of NAFLD; however, dietary interventions have been investigated for the treatment of this disease, including several polyphenolic compounds such as...

Recent research, which involved 2543 participants across four Chinese cities, employed spirometry and liver ultrasonography to assess lung function and liver health, respectively. The findings indicated that individuals with MAFLD exhibited significantly lower lung function compared to those with NAFLD. This was particularly evident in forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume (FEV1) measurements, essential indicators of pulmonary health. The study's critical observation was the progressive decrease in lung function with increasing severity of liver fibrosis in MAFLD patients. This association was independent of other factors such as age, sex, and smoking status, underlining the unique impact of MAFLD...

Almost a third of people with fatty liver disease go on to develop an advanced form of the disease, known as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) that can progress to cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease, or even liver cancer, and is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Why some people remain relatively healthy with fatty liver disease and some go onto potentially life-threatening illness has been a mystery. Until now. A study has shown that the levels of the NOX4 protein change as the disease progresses—rising in the early stages of the disease to protect the liver, but declining as the...

This study is the first to evaluate the separate mechanisms of caffeine and non-caffeine components in mitigating the severity of NAFLD, a common issue linked to Type 2 Diabetes. According to a recent study published in the journal Nutrients by the University of Coimbra, caffeine, polyphenols, and other natural compounds in coffee could play a role in decreasing the severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in overweight individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). NAFLD encompasses a range of liver conditions caused by the accumulation of fat in the liver. This can result in liver fibrosis, which can advance to...

How much water do we need to drink to stay healthy? Studies of hormones are providing diabetes researchers with new answers. Neurotensin and vasopressin are two of the hormones that are being studied by diabetes researchers. Neurotensin is released from the gastrointestinal tract after we have consumed fat. Research has shown that neurotensin can be used as a biomarker to predict the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and fatty liver disease. "Studies have shown that there is an association between raised levels of the hormone after fat consumption and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular...

Weight loss surgery significantly lowers the risk of major adverse liver outcomes as well as major acute cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with biopsy-proven nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), compared with similar patients who didn't have surgery, new research shows. "This is the first study in the medical field reporting a treatment modality that is associated with decreased risk of major adverse events in patients with biopsy-proven NASH," senior author Steven Nissen, MD. As the authors point out, obesity is the main pathophysiologic driver of NASH and weight loss — however achieved — is currently the primary treatment for NASH. "However, bariatric...

There is clear evidence that high sugar consumption leads to obesity and fatty liver disease. Synthetic and natural alternatives to sugar are available, but little is known about the effects of these non-caloric sweeteners on the liver. A new study led by Rohit Kohli, MBBS, MS, shows that stevia extract can reduce markers of fatty liver disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that obesity affects nearly 19% of children. An associated condition called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease affects one out of every 10 children. Fatty liver disease can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Consumption of too...

Scientists at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center have discovered that a diet with high levels of fructose – levels equivalent to that in high fructose corn syrup – and of trans fats not only increases obesity, but also leads to significant fatty liver disease with scar tissue. Moreover, the researchers conducted the study in a new mouse model of obesity and liver disease that so closely models human disease they will now be able to test therapies to determine their effectiveness, according to Rohit Kohli, M.D., a gastroenterologist at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the study's main author. "Fructose...