Chicken or egg turned into head or belly

Renaming NAFLD to MAFLD: Could the LDE System Assist in This Transition?

Our understanding of fatty liver syndromes and their relationship with the metabolic syndrome has improved over recent decades and, paralleling this, we are now at the dawn of the NAFLD (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease) to MAFLD (metabolic-associated fatty liver disease) transition. The pitfalls of NAFLD diagnosis, together with disappointing results in therapeutic trials, and the inconsistencies and risks inherent in a "negative" definition (such as "nonalcoholic") as opposed to a "positive" one (i.e., "metabolic") are predicted to facilitate the proposed renaming of NAFLD to MAFLD. However, a premature change of terminology would not necessarily address major unmet needs in this area, and may even become counterproductive. As an aid to selecting more homogeneous cohorts of patients, I propose the LDE (Liver, Determinants, Extra-hepatic) classification system which, in principle, may help to assess the natural course of disease as well as the efficacy of novel drugs in patients with NAFLD/MAFLD.

Thyroid function in childhood obesity and metabolic comorbidity

Childhood obesity is a worldwide health problem and its prevalence is increasing steadily and dramatically all over the world. Obese subjects have a much greater likelihood than normal-weight children of acquiring dyslipidemia, elevated blood pressure, and impaired glucose metabolism, which significantly increase their risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Elevated TSH concentrations in association with normal or slightly elevated free T4 and/or free T3 levels have been consistently found in obese subjects, but the mechanisms underlying these thyroid hormonal changes are still unclear. Whether higher TSH in childhood obesity is adaptive, increasing metabolic rate in an attempt to reduce further weight gain, or indicates subclinical hypothyroidism or resistance and thereby contributes to lipid and/or glucose dysmetabolism, remains controversial. This review highlights current evidence on thyroid involvement in obese children and discusses the current controversy regarding the relationship between thyroid hormonal derangements and obesity-related metabolic changes (hypertension, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease) in such population. Moreover, the possible mechanisms linking thyroid dysfunction and pediatric obesity are reviewed. Finally, the potential role of lifestyle intervention as well as of therapy with thyroid hormone in the treatment of thyroid abnormalities in childhood obesity is discussed.

Treatment of atherogenic liver based on the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a novel approach to reduce cardiovascular risk?

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which spans a spectrum of conditions ranging from simple steatosis to progressive nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is the most common chronic liver disease and a relevant public health issue. The prevalence of NAFLD depends on adiposity, age, gender and ethnicity. The natural history of liver disease in those with NAFLD critically depends on liver histological changes. However, cardiovascular mortality is increased in NAFLD, particularly in middle-aged adults. Against such a background, this review consists of three sections. First, data on NAFLD as a novel mechanism of increased cardiovascular risk via hyperinsulinism, pro-thrombotic potential, and subclinical inflammation are summarized. Next, the role of atherogenic liver in the development of manifestations of oxidative stress and atherosclerosis is emphasized. Finally, whether and how treating NAFLD will mechanistically result in reduced cardiovascular risk through ameliorated metabolic syndrome is discussed.