Publication Date
Spring 4-29-2024
School
School of Health Sciences
Major
Biology: Biomedical Sciences; Biology: Pre-Med
Keywords
Liver, Fatty Liver, NAFLD, insulin resistance, inflammation
Disciplines
Biology | Physiology | Systems and Integrative Physiology
Recommended Citation
Chung, Elijah, "Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Considerations for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease" (2024). Senior Honors Theses. 1407.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/honors/1407
Abstract
A product of the Westernized, high-fat diet, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as the leading cause of chronic liver disease, affecting one-fourth of the world's population. NAFLD is a progressive disease arising from a multisystem response to excess lipids in the blood, adipose tissue, and liver. Despite the prevalence of NAFLD and its well-studied bidirectional association with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity, there is a shocking scarcity of available treatments aside from diet and lifestyle changes. Thus, further research on NAFLD and potential therapies is urgently needed. This paper will illustrate the major pathways associated with NAFLD and address the relevance of adipose tissue and insulin resistance to identify targets for potential medications and treatments.
