title: Current management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
abstract: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by hepatic accumulation of lipid in patients who do not consume alcohol in amounts generally considered harmful to the liver. NAFLD is becoming a major liver disease in Eastern countries and it is related to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Treatment has focused on improving insulin sensitivity, protecting the liver from oxidative stress, decreasing obesity and improving diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. Lifestyle modification involving diet and enhanced physical activity associated with the treatment of underlying metabolic are the main stain in the current management of NAFLD. Insulin-sensitizing agents and antioxidants, especially thiazolidinediones and vitamin E, seem to be the most promising pharmacologic treatment for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, but further long-term multicenter studies to assess safety are recommended.
authors.affiliation: MD, MSc in Sciences Applied to Adult Health with an emphasis on Gastroenterology, Instituto Alfa de Gastroenterologia, Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Quelson Coelho
authors.initials: QC
authors.lastname: Lisboa
authors.affiliation: Nutritionist, PhD in Sciences Applied to Adult Health, Instituto Alfa de Gastroenterologia, Hospital das Clínicas da UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvia Marinho Ferolla
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: MD, PhD in Gastroenterology. Associate Professor, Faculdade de Medicina da UFMG, Instituto Alfa de Gastroenterologia, Hospital das Clínicas da UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cláudia Alves
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Couto
mesh_terms: D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000592:standards; D002635:Chenodeoxycholic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000072001:Diet, Healthy / Q000379:methods; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: C464660:obeticholic acid; D002635:Chenodeoxycholic Acid