Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in normal weight subjects: current concepts and approaches (literature review)

Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. NAFLD in normal-weight individuals represents a disease whose morphological substrate is liver steatosis, induced by a heterogeneous spectrum of etiological factors, ranging from eating habits (such as high fructose and dietary fats content), body composition (acquired or congenital lipodystrophy, sarcopenia), and genetic risk factors. About 20 % of these patients are diagnosed with steatohepatitis, demonstrating a histopathologic severity similar to patients with classic NAFLD. There are large gaps in our understanding of NAFLD among persons of normal weight, this literature review covers the main aspects of the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapeutic tactics of this condition.