The relationship between obesity and the severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: systematic review and meta-analysis.

The relationship between obesity and the severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: systematic review and meta-analysis. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2018 Apr 02;:1-12 Authors: Lu FB, Hu ED, Xu LM, Chen L, Wu JL, Li H, Chen DZ, Chen YP Abstract INTRODUCTION: A number of researches have explored the association between obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) liver function, histopathology, complications, genetic factors and prognosis, but the results were conflicting and inconclusive. Areas covered: In this meta-analysis, the liver function, histopathology, metabolic complications, patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3) genetic polymorphism and prognosis were compared between non-obese and obese NAFLD. Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane databases were searched to identify eligible studies. The odds ratio (OR) or standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were pooled using fixed- or random-effects models. Expert commentary: This meta-analysis indicated that for NAFLD patients, obesity (according to ethnic-specific BMI cut-off points to define obesity) could predict a worse long-term prognosis. However, obesity may not be an independent factor for the development of NASH or advanced fibrosis in NAFLD patients and NAFLD should be considered as potential population for pharmacologic treatment regardless of obesity. In addition, PNPLA3 rs738409 may be more relevant to the prog...
Source: Expert Review of Gastroenterology and Hepatology - Category: Gastroenterology Tags: Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol Source Type: research