What causes NAFLD?

    Researchedby:
    Last Updated: August 15, 2024

    NAFLD reflects an imbalance of energy metabolism in the liver: more energy enters the liver than it can dispose of, resulting in a net accumulation of energy as triglycerides.[1] Overnutrition and sedentary behavior primarily lead to the development of NAFLD, but there are a variety of other factors that further influence the development and progression of the disease, including genetics, aging, fat tissue dysfunction, gut dysbiosis, and insulin resistance.[2][3]

    Causes of NAFLD

    image

    Adapted from Stefan, Häring & Cusi, 2019[3]

    References

    1. ^Rohit Loomba, Scott L Friedman, Gerald I ShulmanMechanisms and disease consequences of nonalcoholic fatty liver diseaseCell.(2021 May 13)
    2. ^Elena Buzzetti, Massimo Pinzani, Emmanuel A TsochatzisThe multiple-hit pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)Metabolism.(2016 Aug)
    3. ^Norbert Stefan, Hans-Ulrich Häring, Kenneth CusiNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease: causes, diagnosis, cardiometabolic consequences, and treatment strategiesLancet Diabetes Endocrinol.(2019 Apr)