Review construction of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome models for cardiovascular diseases and non–alcoholic fatty liver disease

Objective: This study investigates the mechanistic interplay between cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and non–alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), with emphasis on the holistic framework and syndrome differentiation principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It further establishes TCM syndrome-specific animal models to elucidate shared pathogenic pathways. Methods: A systematic review was conducted on literature from CNKI and PubMed databases (2000–2025) addressing CVDs, NAFLD, and TCM syndrome modeling. We analyzed the establishment of animal models across diverse etiopathogenic classifications, prioritizing the operationalization of TCM syndromes and their translational relevance in disease pathophysiology. Results: The findings demonstrate bidirectional pathophysiological crosstalk between CVDs and NAFLD. The established animal models faithfully recapitulate core pathologic features of both conditions, providing a validated experimental framework for investigating their interconnected pathomechanistic cascades. Conclusion: This review establishes a robust theoretical framework for investigating the comorbidity of CVDs and NAFLD, while providing critical insights for pharmacological formulation development and mechanistic exploration. Importantly, it highlights the distinctive value of traditional TCM in addressing the systemic interplay and therapeutic management of these interconnected metabolic disorders.