Journal Club: The Rise of Fatty Liver Disease and its Metabolic Roots | Ep.66

Apr 23, 2025

Explore the alarming rise of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), now affecting both adults and children. Discover the new terms defining this condition and its alarming connections to obesity. Learn about dietary strategies, including carbohydrate restriction and the benefits of sustainable protein sources. Dive into research linking low-carb diets to improved liver health, and uncover insights from both human and animal studies on the ketogenic diet's complex role. Practical tips await for enhancing your metabolic health!

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INSIGHT

NAFLD Rising in Youth

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is alarmingly prevalent in children and adolescents globally.
Obesity is a major driving factor, but NAFLD also occurs in non-obese youth.

INSIGHT

NAFLD Terminology Shift

NAFLD is now often called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
This renaming highlights that the disease is rooted in systemic metabolic dysfunction.

INSIGHT

High NAFLD Rates in Children

Pediatric NAFLD prevalence is about 13% in the general population and rises to nearly half in obese children.
Prevalence sharply increases in children above age 10, reaching 74% in obese youth.

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In today's journal club episode, co-hosts of The Metabolic Link, Dr. Angela Poff and Dr. Dominic D'Agostino, unpack the startling rise of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)—a silent epidemic affecting millions worldwide. Tune in as they break down groundbreaking new research revealing how NAFLD isn't just impacting adults, but alarmingly, children and adolescents too.

You'll learn about the latest updates in terminology, such as Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH) and Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Fatty Liver Disease (MASLD), highlighting a critical connection to underlying metabolic dysfunction. Plus, discover exciting dietary strategies—like therapeutic carbohydrate restriction—that hold potential not just to prevent, but to actually reverse liver fat accumulation.

If you've ever wondered how your diet and lifestyle choices directly shape your metabolic health, this episode delivers practical insights and actionable information straight from cutting-edge science. Don't miss this deep dive into the latest science on NAFLD—and how simple shifts today could dramatically improve your metabolic health tomorrow.

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Read the papers discussed here:

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