1,721,021 research outputs found
Mediterranean diet and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: molecular mechanisms of protection
No full textNutritional habits modifications have shown an important impact in preventing and ameliorating metabolic alterations, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Among several dietary approaches that exert positive effects in NAFLD patients, the Mediterranean dietary pattern has shown notable benefits. This review explores the molecular mechanisms through which the Mediterranean diet would improve risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome and NAFLD. The main features of the Mediterranean diet acting on metabolism are represented by its whole-grain and low glycemic index cereal-based items, its fatty acid profile, and its content in phytochemical compounds. Carbohydrate-rich foods high in dietary fiber inducing low glycemic response are able to interact with glucose and insulin metabolism. Unsaturated fatty acids are associated with better hepatic lipid metabolism. Finally, phytochemical compounds, such as dietary polyphenols, are thought to ameliorate inflammation, which is considered one of the mechanisms through which NALFD may evolve into nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
Silymarin/Silybin and Chronic Liver Disease: A Marriage of Many Years
Full text linkSilymarin is the extract of Silybum marianum, or milk thistle, and its major active compound is silybin, which has a remarkable biological effect. It is used in different liver disorders, particularly chronic liver diseases, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, because of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic power. Indeed, the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effect of silymarin is oriented towards the reduction of virus-related liver damages through inflammatory cascade softening and immune system modulation. It also has a direct antiviral effect associated with its intravenous administration in hepatitis C virus infection. With respect to alcohol abuse, silymarin is able to increase cellular vitality and to reduce both lipid peroxidation and cellular necrosis. Furthermore, silymarin/silybin use has important biological effects in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. These substances antagonize the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, by intervening in various therapeutic targets: oxidative stress, insulin resistance, liver fat accumulation and mitochondrial dysfunction. Silymarin is also used in liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma that represent common end stages of different hepatopathies by modulating different molecular patterns. Therefore, the aim of this review is to examine scientific studies concerning the effects derived from silymarin/silybin use in chronic liver diseases, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma
Alcoholic Hepatitis: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Treatment
No full textAlcohol represents the oldest substance of abuse known and Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. The ALD includes a wide spectrum of injury and may lead progressively from simple steatosis to frank cirrhosis. The ALD diagnosis may be hard and it is mainly defined by the history of chronic alcohol intake, physical and laboratory abnormalities suggestive of liver disease. Abstinence is the cornerstone of ALD therapy. Although the burden on health of ALD is not negligible, in the last decades few therapeutic advances have been made. Because of the complex pathogenetic mechanisms, the therapy of ALD and especially of severe Alcoholic Hepatitis (AH), represents a thorny problem in the clinical practice. In severe forms of acute AH, some specific drug treatments, including glucorticoids or pentoxifylline, have been defined and are, at the moment, recommended by international guidelines. On the contrary, specific long-term treatments of ALD, aimed at stopping the progression of fibrosis, are not yet approved
Focus on emerging drugs for the treatment of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
No full textNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common liver disorder in Western countries and is increasingly being recognized in developing nations. Fatty liver disease encompasses a spectrum of hepatic pathology, ranging from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and end-stage liver disease. Moreover, NAFLD is often associated with other metabolic conditions, such as diabetes mellitus type 2, dyslipidemia and visceral obesity. The most recent guidelines suggest the management and treatment of patients with NAFLD considering both the liver disease and the associated metabolic co-morbidities. Diet and physical exercise are considered the first line of treatment for patients with NAFLD, but their results on therapeutic efficacy are often contrasting. Behavior therapy is necessary most of the time to achieve a sufficient result. Pharmacological therapy includes a wide variety of classes of molecules with different therapeutic targets and, often, little evidence supporting the real efficacy. Despite the abundance of clinical trials, NAFLD therapy remains a challenge for the scientific community, and there are no licensed therapies for NAFLD. Urgently, new pharmacological approaches are needed. Here, we will focus on the challenges facing actual therapeutic strategies and the most recent investigated molecules
Gut microbiota, obesity and metabolic disorders
No full textObesity, diabetes and metabolic disorders represent hugely significant problems concerning the health in Western countries and the study of gut microbiota in metabolic pathologies is part of this framework. Diet effects on intestinal microbial composition and its role in pathogenetic mechanisms responsible for both obesity and systemic, hepatic and adipose tissue inflammation, represent at the moment one of this mostpromising topic in gastroenterology research. Gut health safety is essential, but it needs to be further explored in order to understand and interrupt the pathogenetic mechanisms, which support a large number of diseases. The aim of this review is to describe what are the modifications of gut microbial composition that occur in metabolic disorders and the role of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of several diseases such as obesity, metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes mellitus, showing how gut microbiota and adipose tissue, liver and brain, together with intestinal permeability increase, carry out an interconnection systemthat plays a pivotal role in the field
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: The Role of Gut Microbiota
No full text: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic multifactorial diseases characterized by partially unclear pathogenic mechanisms including changes in intestinal microbiota. Despite the microbiota, alteration is well established in IBD patients, as reported by 16RNA sequencing analysis, an important goal is to define if it is just a consequence of the disease progression or a trigger factor of the disease itself. To date, gut microbiota composition and gut microbiota-related metabolites seem to affect the host healthy state both by modulating metabolic pathways or acting on the expression of different genes through epigenetic effects. Because of this, it has been suggested that intestinal microbiota might represent a promising therapeutic target for IBD patients. The aim of this review is to summarize both the most recent acquisitions in the field of gut microbiota and its involvement in intestinal inflammation together with the available strategies for the modulation of microbiota, such as prebiotics and/or probiotics administration or fecal microbiota transplantation
Epidemiology and Natural History of Alcoholic Liver Disease
No full textAlcohol represents the oldest substance of abuse known, existed at least as early as the Neolithic period. In the present era, almost half of the world's population consumes alcohol and it represents the third largest risk factor for disease and disability and the most prevalent cause of advanced liver disease worldwide. In fact, when alcohol consumption reaches "unsafe quantities" an Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD) is very likely. ALD comprises a large spectrum of diseases, ranging from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis with fibrosis and cirrhosis. Alcohol related cirrhosis is responsible of almost 50% of all cirrhosis-related and 1% of all-cause deaths worldwide. Even if ALD and alcoholic cirrhosis represent a large part of liver diseases, to know exactly the global burden of these phenomena is very difficult. This is mostly due to diagnostic and nosological issues, being ALD represented by several types of diseases and the diagnosis very often based on voluntary questionnaires. Also the natural history of ALD is somewhat difficult to predict, since there is not a definite evolution between the various stages of the disease and, indeed, they may coexist in a single subject. In this brief review we will report on the global burden of ALD, the principal factors influencing its prevalence among populations and the different presentations of its natural history
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