Yoshihisa Takahashi, Toshio Fukusato, Department of Pathology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan
Keiichiro Sugimoto, Research and Development Center, Nagaoka Perfumery Co. Ltd., Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0005, Japan
Keiichiro Sugimoto, Hiroshi Inui, Center for Research and Development of Bioresources, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka 599-8570, Japan
Hiroshi Inui, Department of Clinical Nutrition, College of Health and Human Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Habikino, Osaka 583-8555, Japan
Author contributions: Takahashi Y wrote the manuscript; Sugimoto K, Inui H and Fukusato T checked and revised the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest: We declare that we have no competing interests.
Correspondence to: Yoshihisa Takahashi, Associate Professor, MD, Department of Pathology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan. ytakaha-tky@umin.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-3-39641211 Fax: +81-3-39649622
Received: November 25, 2014 Peer-review started: November 26, 2014 First decision: December 26, 2014 Revised: January 8, 2015 Accepted: February 5, 2015 Article in press: February 5, 2015 Published online: April 7, 2015 Processing time: 133 Days and 1.5 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is considered to be a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Currently, the principal treatment for NAFLD/NASH is lifestyle modification by diet and exercise. However, establishment of pharmacological therapy is indispensable. Currently, insulin sensitizers (thiazolidinediones) and antioxidants (vitamin E) seem to be the most promising agents for treating NAFLD/NASH, and lipid-lowering drugs, pentoxifylline, angiotensin receptor blockers, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids also have promise. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding the most effective and appropriate pharmacotherapy for NAFLD/NASH. Here, we review the existing and potential pharmacological therapies for NAFLD/NASH.
