The role of vitamins in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

The incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rising rapidly in parallel with obesity rates. The underlying pathogenesis of NAFLD remains an enigma but is largely influenced by individual lifestyle choices involving diet and exercise. Therefore, studies have highlighted the importance of calorie reduction and macronutrient composition (eg, carbohydrate and fat) in modifying disease outcomes. Micronutrients are also believed to play a role in disease progression. There are now an increasing number of studies linking vitamins with NAFLD, particularly vitamin E, and the supple-mentation of several different vitamins has been demonstrated as a promising therapeutic option in the treatment of NAFLD. This review provides a broad overview of the potential role of vitamins in NAFLD development and disease management.