NAFLD's clinical and economic burden will undoubtedly be overwhelming in the coming decades worldwide. 6 This article will address the association between NAFLD, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease.NAFLD, a silent pandemic. The global prevalence of NAFLD is 25.4%, being higher in South America (30.45%) and the Middle East (31.79%) and lower in Africa (13.48%). In Asia and the Pacific, NAFLD numbers are also increasing, mainly due to changes in diet and urbanization, and the adoption of the Western lifestyle. 1