title: Pediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: recent advances.
abstract: Central obesity represents the major factor responsible for NAFLD, but several immunological and endocrinological mechanisms are involved in fatty infiltration in the liver, inflammation and fibrosis. Gut microbiota and genetic factors were recently indicated as major players in liver injury. Loss of weight and physical activity represent till now the cornerstone of treatment, but they are very difficult to obtain and to maintain. Several pharamocotherapeutic approaches including insulin sensitizers, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E have been extensively studied in randomized trials, but final conclusions still could not be formulated. Therefore, new treatments based on pathogenetic mechanisms leading to NAFLD are under evaluation to establish the effective pharmacological therapy of this disorder.
authors.affiliation: Hepato-Metabolic Disease Unit and Liver Research Unit, "Bambino Gesù" Children's Hospital, IRCCS, P.le S. Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Della Corte
authors.affiliation: Paediatrics, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Baronissi, Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vajro
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Malnutrition, the Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Socha
authors.affiliation: Hepato-Metabolic Disease Unit and Liver Research Unit, "Bambino Gesù" Children's Hospital, IRCCS, P.le S. Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: nobili66@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nobili
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy