Short-term multidisciplinary non-pharmacological intervention is effective in reducing liver fat content assessed non-invasively in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) ranges from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis, and cirrhosis in patients with alcohol intake less than 20 g/day, and is usually associated with insulin resistance (IR).

Aim: Given that no drugs are specifically approved for NAFLD, we tested the efficacy of a non-pharmacological multidisciplinary intervention based on a personalized diet, physical activity and behavior therapy.

Methods: In this open non-randomized study, personalized diet, physical exercise and behaviour therapy for 3 months were prescribed in 12 consecutive patients with NAFLD.

Influence of lifestyle habits, nutritional status and insulin resistance in NAFLD.

Non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with obesity, diabetes and insulin resistance (IR). The aim of our study was to assess the relationship between IR, anthropometry, lifestyle habits, resting energy expenditure (REE) and degree of fatty liver at ultrasound in 48 overweight patients with NAFLD as compared to 24 controls without fatty liver, matched for age. Nutritional status, alcohol intake and physical activity were assessed by skinfold thickness measurements, a 7-day diary, and SenseWear armband (SWA).

Epidemiology of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rapidly becoming the most common liver disease worldwide. The prevalence of NAFLD in the general population of Western countries is 20-30%. About 2-3% of the general population is estimated to have non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which may progress to liver cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma.

Epidemiology and natural history of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

The authors summarize and update the most recent knowledge in the field of prevalence, natural history and incidence of Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Non Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH). These novel diseases, firstly recognized at the beginning of the second millennium, arose suddenly to the attention of the clinicians, because they are the hepatic expression of the "so-called" metabolic syndrome. Due to the epidemic burden of obesity, diabetes, and metabolic diseases, NAFLD and NASH will become soon probably the most common hepatic disease worldwide, and they surely will keep busy our future young hepatologists.