Obesity and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Obesity is the most important risk factor associated with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, which is caused by to impaired insulin activity, overflow of portal triglycerides, and production of inflammatory cytokines; all of these are deleterious to hepatocytes. These phenomena facilitate disruptions in hepatic physiology, as observed in alcoholic hepatitis; however, consumption of this substance is absent. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis has had a great impact due to the fact that previously, main cases of cryptogenic cirrhosis actually were attributed to this disease. Despite advances in understanding the pathophysiologic process of the disease, there is no better treatment than weight reduction (a combination of diet and exercise). In this issue, we describe the most important topics with regard to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and the obesity-related process.