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Review
. 2024 May 23;16(11):1584.
doi: 10.3390/nu16111584.

The Evolution in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Patients' Profile and the Associated Sustainable Challenges: A Multidisciplinary Perspective

Maridi Aerts  1 , Zenzi Rosseel  2   3 , Elisabeth De Waele  3   4
Affiliations
Review

The Evolution in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Patients' Profile and the Associated Sustainable Challenges: A Multidisciplinary Perspective

Maridi Aerts et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

The prevalence and incidence of NAFLD is rising due to the obesity pandemic, caused by the widespread availability of ultra-processed foods and the decrease of physical activity. Factors such as socioeconomic status (SES), ethnicity and geographical location are associated with NAFLD, with lower SES correlating with higher incidence, particularly in regions like America or Europe. Beside the quality of food, the quantity also plays a crucial role. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a Mediterranean diet with a balanced energy intake. Since no hard medical treatment is available for NAFLD, lifestyle adjustments are key. Patient empowerment by providing relevant information and co-ownership of the therapy will increase the implementation rate and enhance the quality of medical follow-up and medication adherence, as studies report a good adherence to medication among patients who are well-aware of the severity of their disease. Regarding sustainability, patients with NAFLD have a high load of ambulatory follow-up, which, since the COVID-19 pandemic, can be partially provided by teleconsulting. Both patients' lifestyle modifications and healthcare practitioners' therapeutical strategy can decrease the carbon footprint.

Keywords: NAFLD; cirrhosis; nutrition; sustainability; waste.

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Conflict of interest statement

E.D.W. reported receiving honoraria for advisory board meetings, lectures, and travel expenses from Baxter Healthcare, Danone-Nutricia, Cardinal Health, Fresenius Kabi, GE Healthcare, ART Medical, and Ferring Pharmaceuticals. The other authors had no conflict of interest in this study.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
This flowchart illustrates the procedure for the selection of relevant articles according to predefined in- and exclusion criteria. After the initial screening, full texts were analysed, summarized and compared to existing literature.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Predisposing factors in the development of NAFLD and possible solutions to slow down and prevent the occurrence of NAFLD. The circle diagram on the left describes possible factors that can contribute to the development of NAFLD. The development of NAFLD results often from a combination of these factors. The circle diagram on the right refers to possible solutions in preventing and slowing down progression of NAFLD.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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