Researchers at Karolinska Institutet and the University of Gothenburg in Sweden have made a groundbreaking discovery about metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD), revealing two distinct types of the condition.
This finding, published in Nature Medicine, could lead to better diagnosis and personalized treatments for the millions of people affected by MASLD worldwide.
MASLD, previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), occurs when fat builds up excessively in the liver. It is often caused by obesity and affects about one in four adults globally.
Despite its prevalence, most people are unaware they have MASLD because symptoms usually don’t appear until the disease progresses to severe complications, such as cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Using data from over 36,000 participants in the UK Biobank and other studies, the researchers identified two distinct types of MASLD with different health risks and disease progression. One type, referred to as the liver-specific type, mainly affects the liver.
This aggressive form can lead to severe liver damage but appears to provide some protection against cardiovascular diseases. The other type, known as the systemic type, is linked to a higher risk of diabetes, heart disease, kidney failure, and other conditions related to the cardio-renal-metabolic syndrome.
This distinction is crucial for understanding why some people with MASLD develop severe liver problems, while others experience broader systemic health issues.
“We discovered that there are at least two types of steatotic liver disease with different clinical trajectories,” explained Professor Stefano Romeo, who led the research.
The researchers also identified 27 new genetic variants associated with MASLD. By analyzing these genes, they developed two risk scores that can help predict which type of MASLD a person has and their likelihood of developing specific complications.
To complement their findings, a parallel study led by researchers in France used a method called unsupervised clustering to confirm similar results.
This method grouped patients based on simple clinical data, allowing doctors to predict whether an individual with MASLD is more likely to develop liver disease or cardiovascular complications.
“The clustering method is especially important because it enables differentiation at an individual level,” said Romeo.
These discoveries mark a significant step forward in precision medicine, where treatments are tailored to the specific needs of each patient. By understanding whether a patient has the liver-specific or systemic type of MASLD, doctors can better predict the progression of the disease and design targeted therapies.
The research also highlights the importance of genetics in understanding complex diseases like MASLD and their links to other conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease. It emphasizes how both genetic and environmental factors play a role in health outcomes.
In addition to improving diagnosis and treatment, this work underscores the need for greater awareness of MASLD, as early detection and management could prevent severe complications.
The researchers hope their findings will inspire continued research into the genetic and environmental factors that contribute to MASLD and related diseases.
With the ability to distinguish between the two types of MASLD, doctors are now better equipped to tailor treatments and improve outcomes for patients, offering hope for more effective management of this widespread and often overlooked condition.
If you care about liver health, please read studies about simple habit that could give you a healthy liver, and common diabetes drug that may reverse liver inflammation.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about simple blood test that could detect your risk of fatty liver disease, and results showing this green diet may strongly lower non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
The research findings can be found in Nature Medicine.
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