The Rise in the Prevalence of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects a third of the world's population and its rapid rise parallels the increase in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). NAFLD replacing hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection as a leading indicator for liver transplantation (LT) in the United States. NAFLD is a spectrum of disease ranging from simple steatosis (NAFL) to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which can progress to advanced fibrosis (AF) and cirrhosis, culminating in HCC. The main clinical concern of public health administrators is that many patients who are unaware of NAFLD remain undiagnosed and risk developing end-stage liver disease (ESLD). Clinicians overly rely on surrogate liver enzymes to identify patients with NAFLD, allowing for substantial liver disease to go unnoticed and untreated. Furthermore, according to epidemiological studies, in patients diagnosed with NAFLD, ethnicity plays a role in complications and treatment response, and ethnic correlations with NAFLD are thoroughly underreported. Although liver biopsy is the gold standard method for appropriately diagnosing and staging NAFLD, most patients can be effectively diagnosed non-invasively with imaging modalities and integrated tests that are routinely available in the clinic today. This chapter discusses the current global rise in the rates of NAFLD and HCC; the current key findings incidences and the recommended diagnostic approaches and in therapeutic methods.

Aerobic exercise training regulates serum extracellular vesicle miRNAs linked to obesity to promote their beneficial effects in mice

“…Obesity-induced insulin resistance in this tissue, promoted mainly by intramyocellular lipids accumulation, is the major defect involved in the development of type 2 diabetes, affecting systemic insulin sensitivity (8). The liver is an essential metabolic organ responsible for endogenous glucose production, so increased lipid accumulation on this organ may lead to the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (37); NAFLD comprises a spectrum of disorders characterized by liver steatosis and affects one-third of the world's population, and its rapid rise parallels the increase in hepatocellular carcinoma (46).…”

Neonatal Oral Administration of Chrysin Prevents Long-Term Development of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in a Sexually Dimorphic Manner in Fructose Nurtured Sprague Dawley Rats

“…Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is the excessive accumulation of lipids in the liver without excessive alcohol intake or other factors that could result in liver damage, such as chemicals or infection by hepatitis C virus [ 1 ]. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is reversible with timely diagnosis and treatment [ 2 ]. However, it can progress from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, and possibly hepatocellular carcinoma [ 3 ] if untreated.…”

“…The global incidence and prevalence of NAFLD has been estimated to be 25% [ 4 ], with the highest prevalence rate in Europe, America, and Asia, at about 24–30% [ 2 ], while, in Africa, it is approximately 14% [ 3 ]. Management of NAFLD places a heavy burden on healthcare facilities globally [ 5 ].…”

Possible Hepatoprotective Effect of Tocotrienol-Rich Fraction Vitamin E in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Obese Children and Adolescents

“…NAFLD is described as hepatic fat infiltration of more than 5% of liver weight with no underlying liver diseases. It constitutes a series of conditions, ranging from intrahepatic fat accumulation to necrotic fibrosis and inflammation ( 3 ). The disease is generally asymptomatic, yet if left untreated, it will eventually lead to liver cirrhosis and, in some cases, hepatocellular carcinoma ( 4 ).…”