Carbohydrates aggravate fatty liver by activating the inflammatory response.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954422421000202

Commentary

This study describes the effects of carbohydrates on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD was defined in 1980 and has the same histological features as alcoholic liver disease. 40 years later, there is still much that is unknown about this disease.

Forty years later, there are still many unknowns about this disease. The number of NAFLD patients is increasing and it is now thought to affect more than a quarter of the world's population. We know that the cause of this disease is due to a sedentary lifestyle and excessive energy intake of fats and sugars. Therefore, in order to improve or avoid NAFLD, we can take measures such as reducing calorie intake and replacing it with methods that make us feel full.

However, few studies have focused on the effects of carbohydrate intake on liver metabolism in NAFLD patients, far fewer than studies on fat intake.

In this review, we collected and analyzed data from studies on human and animal models, and the results show that carbohydrates and fatty liver may be associated with inflammation. We analyzed the effects of carbohydrates on NAFLD and body lipid metabolism as well as the possible molecular pathways of carbohydrates on lipid synthesis in the liver with inflammation. Furthermore, the limitations of recent studies and possible targets for modulating inflammation and lipogenesis are described.

This review explained the impact of carbohydrates (nutrient signals) on NAFLD from an inflammatory perspective.