Volume 20, Issue 4 pp. 181-188
INVITED REVIEW

Role of gut microbial metabolites in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Ze Hua Zhao

Ze Hua Zhao

Center for Fatty Liver, Department of Gastroenterology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China

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Jonathan King-Lam Lai

Jonathan King-Lam Lai

Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney and Westmead Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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Liang Qiao

Corresponding Author

Liang Qiao

Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney and Westmead Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Correspondence

Jian Gao FAN, Center for Fatty Liver, Department of Gastroenterology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai 200092, China.

Email: [email protected]

Liang QIAO, Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney and Westmead Hospital, 176 Hawkesbury Road, Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia.

Email: [email protected]

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Jian Gao Fan

Corresponding Author

Jian Gao Fan

Center for Fatty Liver, Department of Gastroenterology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China

Correspondence

Jian Gao FAN, Center for Fatty Liver, Department of Gastroenterology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai 200092, China.

Email: [email protected]

Liang QIAO, Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney and Westmead Hospital, 176 Hawkesbury Road, Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia.

Email: [email protected]

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First published: 31 January 2019
Citations: 25
Conflict of interest: None.
Funding information Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, Grant/Award Number: 2017YFC0908903; National Natural Science Foundation of China, Grant/Award Numbers: 81470840, 81600464, 81873565

Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common, multifactorial liver disease that has emerged as a global challenge due to its increasing prevalence and lack of sustainable treatment options. Gut microbiota possess vital functions in fermenting dietary nutrients and synthesizing bioactive molecules. This function is of great importance in maintaining health because these microbial metabolites are essential in regulating energy metabolism, immune response, and other vital physiological processes. Altered gut flora can result in a change in gut microbial metabolites, affecting the onset and progression of multiple diseases. In this review we summarize the metabolites that may have beneficial or harmful effects on the development and progression of NAFLD. This will help us better understand the possible mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of NAFLD and facilitate the identification of potential therapeutic approaches for NAFLD.

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