Nutrients, Genetic Factors, and Their Interaction in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Cardiovascular Disease

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 21; no. 22; p. 8761
• Main Authors: Lombardi, Rosa, Iuculano, Federica, Pallini, Giada, Fargion, Silvia, Fracanzani, Anna Ludovica
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 19-11-2020; MDPI
• Subjects: Apolipoproteins; Apolipoproteins - genetics; Apolipoproteins - metabolism; Calories; Carbohydrates; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - genetics; Cardiovascular Diseases - metabolism; Cardiovascular Diseases - pathology; Corn syrup; Diet; Diet - methods; Epigenesis, Genetic; Epigenetics; Fats; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - administration & dosage; Fatty liver; fructose; Fructose - adverse effects; Gene polymorphism; Gene-Environment Interaction; Genetic factors; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genetics; Glucose; Humans; Inflammation; Insulin resistance; Lipase - genetics; Lipase - metabolism; Lipids; Liver; Liver diseases; Membrane Proteins - genetics; Membrane Proteins - metabolism; Metabolism; Microbiota; Micronutrients; Micronutrients - administration & dosage; Morbidity; NAFLD; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease - etiology; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease - genetics; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease - metabolism; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease - pathology; Nutrients; Nutrients - administration & dosage; nutrigenomic; Nutrition therapy; Oxidative stress; Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors - genetics; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors - metabolism; Phospholipase; Polymorphism; Polymorphism, Genetic; PUFA; Review; Risk Factors; Risk management; Soft drinks; Vitamins; nutrigenomic; cardiovascular disease; NAFLD; PUFA; epigenetic; PNPLA3; fructose; micronutrients; diet; genetic influence
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228761

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in Western countries and expose patients to increased risk of hepatic and cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. Both environmental factors and genetic predisposition contribute to the risk. An inappropriate diet, rich in refined carbohydrates, especially fructose, and saturated fats, and poor in fibers, polyunsaturated fats, and vitamins is one of the main key factors, as well as the polymorphism of patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 3 (PNPLA3 gene) for NAFLD and the apolipoproteins and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) family for the cardiovascular damage. Beyond genetic influence, also epigenetics modifications are responsible for various clinical manifestations of both hepatic and CV disease. Interestingly, data are accumulating on the interplay between diet and genetic and epigenetic modifications, modulating pathogenetic pathways in NAFLD and CV disease. We report the main evidence from literature on the influence of both macro and micronutrients in NAFLD and CV damage and the role of genetics either alone or combined with diet in increasing the risk of developing both diseases. Understanding the interaction between metabolic alterations, genetics and diet are essential to treat the diseases and tailoring nutritional therapy to control NAFLD and CV risk.