Non- alcoholic fatty liver disease( NAFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases,with complicated etiology and pathogenesis. As a heredity- environment- metabolism- stress disease,the genetic factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. In order to identify the role of genetic factors in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and to find out new clinical therapeutic targets,the present review summarizes the susceptibility genes of NAFLD,especially those identified by genome- wide association study,including the genes of patatin- like phospholipase domain- containing 3,leptin receptor,adiponectin,and tumor necrosis factor- ɑ.