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Review
. 2024 Dec 13;16(12):e75677.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.75677. eCollection 2024 Dec.

A Comprehensive Review of Pathophysiological Link Between Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Insulin Resistance, and Metabolic Syndrome

Eudith Januario  1 , Aly Barakat  2 , Abhivanditha Rajsundar  3 , Zahra Fatima  4 , Varda Nanda Palienkar  5 , Arjun V Bullapur  6 , Sunchandandeep Singh Brar  7 , Punam Kharel  8 , Mishal Mohammed Koyappathodi Machingal  9 , Amena Backosh  10
Affiliations
Review

A Comprehensive Review of Pathophysiological Link Between Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Insulin Resistance, and Metabolic Syndrome

Eudith Januario et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic condition characterized by hepatic steatosis in the absence of significant alcohol consumption and is increasingly recognized as the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome (MetS). This review aims to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction between NAFLD, insulin resistance (IR), and MetS, with a focus on identifying therapeutic targets. A comprehensive review of existing literature on NAFLD, IR, and MetS was conducted. The review indicates that IR contributes to hepatic lipid accumulation through increased lipolysis, elevated free fatty acid flux, and impaired fatty acid oxidation, while MetS exacerbates the condition by promoting visceral adiposity, chronic inflammation, and impaired lipid metabolism. Additionally, dysbiosis and increased intestinal permeability in the gut-liver axis worsen IR, leading to a vicious cycle of metabolic dysfunction. In conclusion, addressing these interconnected pathways could enhance therapeutic strategies and reduce the burden of NAFLD-related complications.

Keywords: diabetes and metabolic syndrome; diabetes type 2; insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome; nafld nash statins nash and statins nash; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

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