title: Expert opinion on current therapies for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rapidly becoming one of most common liver diseases in industrialized countries owing to the increasing prevalence of obesity and being overweight. Until now, loss of weight and physical activity have represented the cornerstone of treatment, but they are very difficult to achieve and to maintain. Therefore, new treatments based on pathogenetic mechanisms leading to NAFLD are under evaluation to establish an effective pharmacological therapy for this disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  An overview of current therapeutic interventions to treat NAFLD is given. This review provides evidence of the efficacy of natural and pharmacological agents used so far in the treatment of both adult and pediatric NAFLD, on the basis of clinical trials published in the last 10 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the last 10 years, many pharmacological agents on the basis of the pathogenetic mechanism of NAFLD have been attempted, but so far guidelines for the management of NAFLD are lacking. We believe that the advance in the understanding of pathogenesis and factors involved in the progression of the disease may disclose the way to defining new, solid, therapeutic strategies. A multidisciplinary approach considering the risk factors and comorbidities of fatty liver will represent in the future a successful therapeutic strategy for NAFLD.
authors.affiliation: Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Liver Research Unit, IRCCS, Piazzale S. Onofrio 4, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Della Corte
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alisi
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Iorio
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alterio
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nobili
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009043:Motor Activity; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents