Prevalance and Statistics

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is the most common cause of abnormal liver function tests among U.S. adults, can range in severity from simple fat accumulation to life-threatening liver disease. It is most commonly associated with obesity, insulin resistance, and hyperlipidemia – all components of metabolic syndrome. However, not everyone with metabolic syndrome develops hepatic steatosis, and the condition does not always progress to severe stages.

Recent retrospective studies have shown that the prevalence of cirrhosis due to NAFLD may vary by ethnic group. While the prevalence of hepatic steatosis was similar between the sexes in blacks or Hispanics, it is seen that in whites, prevalence in men was twice as high than that in women. In most people, HTGC correlated significantly with components of the metabolic syndrome. Notably, no significant positive correlation has been found between daily ethanol intake and HTGC. There are fundamental differences in lipid homeostasis among ethnic groups.While blacks and Hispanics had similar levels of obesity and insulin resistance, blacks had a much lower prevalence of hepatic steatosis.

Understanding the mechanisms responsible for the ethnic differences in the prevalence of hepatic steatosis and steatosis-related liver injury can provide clues to the development of new therapeutic approaches for the prevention and treatment of this disorder.

New studies have found hepatic steatosis fatty liver disease in nearly one third of American adults in a large urban population sample. The prevalence of the disease varied significantly among ethnic groups. Hispanics had a higher prevalence than whites, while blacks had a lower prevalence than whites

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common cause of abnormal liver function tests among U.S. adults, can range in severity from simple fat accumulation to life-threatening liver diseases. It is commonly associated with obesity, insulin resistance, and hyperlipidemia all components of metabolic syndrome. Recent retrospective studies have also shown that the prevalence of cirrhosis due to NAFLD may vary by ethnic group.