NAFLD Is Not Rare Among Lean, Nonobese Individuals

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is not uncommon, and its prevalence trending upward worldwide, even among lean and nonobese individuals, according to a recently published study.

Previous studies have shown wide ranges in estimates of the prevalence of NAFLD in lean or nonobese individuals. Therefore, for this new study, the researchers sought to clarify the rates of NAFLD in this population by conducting a meta-analysis of 45 studies identified through searches of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases.

The final meta-analysis included 55,936 lean or nonobese individuals, of whom 7351 had NAFLD. The results showed that the prevalence of NAFLD was 10.2% in the lean population and 15.7% in the nonobese population.

Studies conducted in the Western region revealed a higher prevalence of NAFLD than those conducted in the Eastern region, though NAFLD was deemed “not rare” in both populations.

Moreover, the researchers determined that the prevalence of NAFLD in the lean and nonobese populations has been trending upward in recent years.

The researchers also found that lean or nonobese individuals with NAFLD showed significantly lower rates of hypertension, lower levels of fasting glucose, and lower levels of uric acid, as well as higher levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, compared with nonlean and obese individuals.

“This meta-analysis of prevalence assessment and clinical characteristics should enable higher confidence in more specific interventions and health care standards for these patients,” the researchers concluded.

—Rebecca Mashaw

Reference:

Shi Y, Wang Q, Sun Y, et al. The prevalence of lean/nonobese nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2020;54(4):378-387. https://doi.org/10.1097/MCG.0000000000001270