©The Author(s) 2019. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 14, 2019; 25(2): 163-177
Published online Jan 14, 2019. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v25.i2.163
Published online Jan 14, 2019. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v25.i2.163
Current status, problems, and perspectives of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease research
Naoki Tanaka, Department of Metabolic Regulation, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan
Naoki Tanaka, International Research Center for Agricultural Food Industry, Shinshu University, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan
Takefumi Kimura, Naoyuki Fujimori, Tadanobu Nagaya, Michiharu Komatsu, Eiji Tanaka, Department of Internal Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan
Author contributions: All authors have approved the submission of this manuscript. Tanaka N wrote the manuscript; Tanaka N, Kimura T, Fujimori N, Nagaya T and Komatsu M have conducted long-term NAFLD/NASH research and discussed the perspectives; Tanaka E supervised the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: There is no conflict of interests.
Corresponding author: Naoki Tanaka, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Doctor, Department of Metabolic Regulation, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan. naopi@shinshu-u.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-263-372634 Fax: +81-263-329412
Received: October 5, 2018
Peer-review started: October 5, 2018
First decision: November 14, 2018
Revised: December 24, 2018
Accepted: December 27, 2018
Article in press: December 28, 2018
Published online: January 14, 2019
Processing time: 102 Days and 14 Hours
Peer-review started: October 5, 2018
First decision: November 14, 2018
Revised: December 24, 2018
Accepted: December 27, 2018
Article in press: December 28, 2018
Published online: January 14, 2019
Processing time: 102 Days and 14 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Recent trends in diet and lifestyle have increased the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/steatohepatitis (NAFLD/NASH) worldwide. Although advances in non-invasive biomarkers and imaging modalities have improved disease detection and follow-up, considerable work is needed to identify individuals with low fibrosis stages or at risk of rapid disease progression. In the future, earlier detection will enable prompt single or combination treatment with new-line drugs that have been optimized for maximum benefit and fewer adverse events. Only with a concerted effort across multi-disciplinary fields can clinicians begin to halt the rapid spread of NAFLD/NASH.