Fighting Fatty Liver Disease: Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Approaches

FLD is a burgeoning international ailment closely associated with the increasing rates of obesity, type II diabetes mellitus and physical inactivity. This review focuses on the various aspects of FLD pathophysiology including genetic susceptibility, metabolic disturbances, inflammation, oxidative stress, and environmental factors. Diagnostic tests can be simple and non-invasive such as imaging and biomarkers and can be relatively invasive, such as liver biopsies. Currently the treatment focus is made on drug and surgical interventions with lifestyle changes, and besides, gene and stem cell therapies remain an experimental method with fewer evidences. The article points to the problems of patient compliance, adequate diagnostics, and effectiveness of the treatment, the necessity of working on the concept of individualized medicine, new therapeutic strategies, and prevention. A statically and working knowledge and a combination and complex strategy are required to approach and decrease the burden of FLD worldwide.