Vitamin D and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD): An Update
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the first cause of chronic liver disease worldwide; it ranges from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis (NASH) and, potentially, cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma. NAFLD is also an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and morta...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/11/3302 |
| _version_ | 1797549587000459264 |
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| author | Ilaria Barchetta Flavia Agata Cimini Maria Gisella Cavallo |
| author_facet | Ilaria Barchetta Flavia Agata Cimini Maria Gisella Cavallo |
| author_sort | Ilaria Barchetta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the first cause of chronic liver disease worldwide; it ranges from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis (NASH) and, potentially, cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma. NAFLD is also an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality. As it is largely associated with insulin resistance and related disorders, NAFLD has been recently re-named as Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD). At present, there are no approved pharmacological treatments for this condition. Vitamin D is a molecule with extensive anti-fibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and insulin-sensitizing properties, which have been proven also in hepatic cells and is involved in immune-metabolic pathways within the gut–adipose tissue–liver axis. Epidemiological data support a relationship hypovitaminosis D and the presence of NAFLD and steatohepatitis (NASH); however, results from vitamin D supplementation trials on liver outcomes are controversial. This narrative review provides an overview of the latest evidence on pathophysiological pathways connecting vitamin D to NAFLD, with emphasis on the effects of vitamin D treatment in MAFLD by a nonsystematic literature review of PubMed published clinical trials. This article conforms to the Scale for Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA) guidelines. Evidence so far available supports the hypothesis of potential benefits of vitamin D supplementation in selected populations of NAFLD patients, as those with shorter disease duration and mild to moderate liver damage. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:16:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4188e2610c6f440999f7fe8cd0b3107f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:16:42Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-4188e2610c6f440999f7fe8cd0b3107f2023-11-20T18:51:15ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432020-10-011211330210.3390/nu12113302Vitamin D and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD): An UpdateIlaria Barchetta0Flavia Agata Cimini1Maria Gisella Cavallo2Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena 321, 00161 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena 321, 00161 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena 321, 00161 Rome, ItalyNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the first cause of chronic liver disease worldwide; it ranges from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis (NASH) and, potentially, cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma. NAFLD is also an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality. As it is largely associated with insulin resistance and related disorders, NAFLD has been recently re-named as Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD). At present, there are no approved pharmacological treatments for this condition. Vitamin D is a molecule with extensive anti-fibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and insulin-sensitizing properties, which have been proven also in hepatic cells and is involved in immune-metabolic pathways within the gut–adipose tissue–liver axis. Epidemiological data support a relationship hypovitaminosis D and the presence of NAFLD and steatohepatitis (NASH); however, results from vitamin D supplementation trials on liver outcomes are controversial. This narrative review provides an overview of the latest evidence on pathophysiological pathways connecting vitamin D to NAFLD, with emphasis on the effects of vitamin D treatment in MAFLD by a nonsystematic literature review of PubMed published clinical trials. This article conforms to the Scale for Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA) guidelines. Evidence so far available supports the hypothesis of potential benefits of vitamin D supplementation in selected populations of NAFLD patients, as those with shorter disease duration and mild to moderate liver damage.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/11/3302NAFLDNASHMAFLDvitamin DVDRadipose tissue |
| spellingShingle | Ilaria Barchetta Flavia Agata Cimini Maria Gisella Cavallo Vitamin D and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD): An Update Nutrients NAFLD NASH MAFLD vitamin D VDR adipose tissue |
| title | Vitamin D and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD): An Update |
| title_full | Vitamin D and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD): An Update |
| title_fullStr | Vitamin D and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD): An Update |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vitamin D and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD): An Update |
| title_short | Vitamin D and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD): An Update |
| title_sort | vitamin d and metabolic dysfunction associated fatty liver disease mafld an update |
| topic | NAFLD NASH MAFLD vitamin D VDR adipose tissue |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/11/3302 |
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