Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is defined as a pathologic accumulation of fat in the form of triglycerides (TG) in the liver (steatosis) that is not caused by alcohol. A subgroup of NAFLD patients shows liver cell injury and inflammation coupled with the excessive fat accumulation (steatohepatitis), which is referred to as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Patients with NASH may develop cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). NAFLD shares the key features of metabolic syndrome including obesity, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and insulin resistance. The pathogenesis of NAFLD is multi-factorial, however the oxidative stress seems to plays a major role in the development and progression of the disease. The emerging field of epigenetics provides a new perspective on the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Epigenetics is an inheritable but reversible phenomenon that affects gene expression without altering the DNA sequence and refers to DNA methylation, histone modifications and microRNAs. Epigenetic manipulation through metabolic pathways such as one-carbon metabolism has been proposed as a promising approach to retard the progression of NAFLD. Investigating the epigenetic modifiers in NAFLD may also lead to the development of preventive or therapeutic strategies for NASH-associated complications.
Highlights
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), ranging from simple steatosis through steatohepatitis to, cirrhosis, is characterized by an abnormal accumulation of triglycerides (TG) in the liver without alcohol consumption [1]
It is quite clear that the field of nutritional epigenetics is further clarifying the mechanisms of gene-nutrient interaction, providing the role of nutrition in determining phenotype from genotype [84]
Even though knowledge regarding the effects of epigenetics on NAFLD is limited, epigenetic intervention is becoming a new and rapidly growing field for potential therapeutic strategies aimed at preventing diseases by reversing the epigenetic aberrancies
Summary
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), ranging from simple steatosis through steatohepatitis to, cirrhosis, is characterized by an abnormal accumulation of triglycerides (TG) in the liver without alcohol consumption [1]. NAFLD is often associated with the most common clinical features of metabolic syndrome, such as central obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and arterial hypertension [2]. It is generally considered a benign condition, affecting up to 60%–70% of diabetic and obese patients [3]. A large proportion of the population is at the greater risk of NAFLD owing to the high prevalence of obesity and insulin resistance, but only a limited number of individuals affected by those conditions develops NASH and its associated morbidity [31], suggesting many other factors are involved in the development of this disease.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
