Race and Ethnicity in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): A Narrative Review

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a significant public health concern worldwide with a complex etiology attributed to behavioural, environmental, and genetic causes. The worldwide prevalence of NAFLD is estimated to be 32.4% and constantly rising. Global data, however, indicate considerable heterogeneity among studies for both NAFLD prevalence and incidence. Identifying variables that affect the estimated epidemiological measures is essential to all stakeholders, including patients, researchers, healthcare providers, and policymakers. Besides helping with the research on disease etiology, it helps to identify individuals at risk of the disease, which in turn will outline the focus of the preventive measures and help to fittingly tailor individualized treatments, targeted prevention, screening, or treatment programs. Several studies suggest differences in the prevalence and severity of NAFLD by race or ethnicity, which may be linked to differences in lifestyle, diet, metabolic comorbidity profile, and genetic background, among others. Race/ethnicity research is essential as it can provide valuable information regarding biological and genetic differences among people with similar cultural, dietary, and geographical backgrounds. In this review, we examined the existing literature on race/ethnicity differences in susceptibility to NAFLD and discussed the contributing variables to such differences, including diet and physical activity, the comorbidity profile, and genetic susceptibility. We also reviewed the limitations of race/ethnicity studies in NAFLD.

Lipid droplet biogenesis and functions in health and disease

“…Defined by an accumulation of lipid droplets in the liver, NAFLD is a chronic heterogeneous disease with a global prevalence of 32.4% 167 . As NAFLD can occur as a cause, consequence and exacerbator of metabolic dysfunction 168 , 169 , a reclassification of NAFLD to metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has been proposed in the past few years 170 .…”

Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Patients: Assessment Using Non-Invasive Diagnostic Tools

“…NAFLD is significantly more prevalent globally than was previously estimated, and its alarming rate of increase continues. According to a study by Riazi et al (11) that was recently published, the global prevalence of NAFLD is estimated to be 32.4%. From 2005 to 2016, the prevalence increased substantially, from 25.5% prior to that year to 37.8%.…”

Molecular Genealogy of Metabolic-associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma

“…variant is Peruvian(72%), followed by Mexican ancestry in Los Angeles (55%), Japanese (42%), and Colombian (41%), while the lowest is African ancestry such as Luhya in Kenya (9%), followed by Gambians (11%), Mende in Sierra Leone (11%) and Yoruba in Nigeria (12%) [51]. The MBOAT7 rs641738[T] variant was associated with MASLD severity in Europeans but inversely associated in obese Hispanic children in the U.S [52].…”

“…51 The MBOAT7 rs641738 [T] variant was associated with MASLD severity in Europeans but inversely associated with obese Hispanic children in the United States. 52 Very recently, GWAS on HCC was conducted in large numbers of individuals from European-descent populations. 53 Significant association with the risk of nonviral HCC was found in MOBP variant rs9842969 (odds ratio (OR): 0.51), TERT variant rs2242652 (OR: 0.70), TM6SF2 variant rs58542926 (OR: 1.49), MAU2 variant rs58489806 (OR: 1.53), and PNPLA3 variant rs738409 (OR: 1.66).…”