Progress in treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

The incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease ( NAFLD) increases with the prevalence of obesity, but specific treatment for this disease is lacking. First, the possible clinical benefits from different strategies of lifestyle modification, as well as the methods for improving intervention effect and existing problems, are reviewed. Second, the indications for bariatric surgery and the main research directions are briefly presented. Finally, several promising drugs including vitamin E, farnesoid X receptor agonist, intestinal probiotics, polyunsaturated fatty acids, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, and pentoxifylline are elaborated on. The currently acquired clinical evidence and progress in basic research suggest that lifestyle modification is the basis for treatment in all patients with NAFLD, but better schemes are needed to improve the intervention effect; bariatric surgery is one of the effective therapies for NAFLD patients with morbid obesity who have no relevant contraindications; drug treatment should be selectively applied to the population with a confirmed diagnosis of NAFLD.