MAFLD outperforms NAFLD in identifying metabolic dysfunction in U.S. adolescents: a NHANES 2017–2020 analysis | BMC Gastroenterology

  • Amini-Salehi E, Letafatkar N, Norouzi N, Joukar F, Habibi A, Javid M, et al. Global prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: an updated review meta-analysis comprising a population of 78 million from 38 countries. Arch Med Res. 2024;55:103043. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arcmed.2024.103043.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee EJ, Choi M, Ahn SB, Yoo J-J, Kang SH, Cho Y, et al. Prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in pediatrics and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. World J Pediatr. 2024;20:569–80. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12519-024-00814-1.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Bardugo A, Bendor CD, Zucker I, Lutski M, Cukierman-Yaffe T, Derazne E, et al. Adolescent Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Type 2 Diabetes in Young Adulthood. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021;106:e34-44. https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgaa753.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Lv J, Zhang Y, Li X, Guo H, Yang C. The burden of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among working-age people in the Western Pacific Region, 1990–2019: an age–period–cohort analysis of the global burden of disease study. BMC Public Health. 2024;24:1852. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19047-y.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Eslam M, Newsome PN, Sarin SK, Anstee QM, Targher G, Romero-Gomez M, et al. A new definition for metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease: an international expert consensus statement. J Hepatol. 2020;73:202–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2020.03.039.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Lim GEH, Tang A, Ng CH, Chin YH, Lim WH, Tan DJH, et al. An observational data meta-analysis on the differences in prevalence and risk factors between MAFLD vs NAFLD. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2023;21:619-629.e7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2021.11.038.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Ayada I, Zhang X, Wang L, Li Y, Wen T, et al. Estimating Global Prevalence of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease in Overweight or Obese Adults. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022;20:e573–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2021.02.030.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Chan KE, Koh TJL, Tang ASP, Quek J, Yong JN, Tay P, et al. Global prevalence and clinical characteristics of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease: a meta-analysis and systematic review of 10 739 607 individuals. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2022;107:2691–700. https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgac321.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y, Li H, Li S, Xu Z, Tian S, Wu J, et al. Prevalence of and risk factors for metabolic associated fatty liver disease in an urban population in China: a cross-sectional comparative study. BMC Gastroenterol. 2021;21:212. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-021-01782-w.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Kan C, Zhang K, Wang Y, Zhang X, Liu C, Ma Y, et al. Global burden and future trends of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: 1990–2021 to 2045. Ann Hepatol. 2025;30:101898. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aohep.2025.101898.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu F, Liu J, She B, Yang H, Ji F, Zhang L. Global trends and inequalities of liver complications related to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: an analysis from 1990 to 2021. Liver Int. 2025;45:e16120. https://doi.org/10.1111/liv.16120.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Neri CR, Scapaticci S, Chiarelli F, Giannini C. Liver steatosis: a marker of metabolic risk in children. IJMS. 2022;23:4822. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23094822.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Fang Y-L, Chen H, Wang C-L, Liang L. Pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in children and adolescence: From “two hit theory” to “multiple hit model.” WJG. 2018;24:2974–83. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v24.i27.2974.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Huh JH, Kim KJ, Kim SU, Cha B-S, Lee B-W. Obesity is an important determinant of severity in newly defined metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int. 2022;21:241–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hbpd.2022.03.009.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Patton HM, Yates K, Unalp-Arida A, Behling CA, Huang TT-K, Rosenthal P, et al. Association between metabolic syndrome and liver histology among children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 2010;105:2093–102. https://doi.org/10.1038/ajg.2010.152.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Abenavoli L, Spagnuolo R, Scarlata GGM, Gambardella ML, Boccuto L, Méndez-Sánchez N, et al. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases: a pilot study. Life. 2024;14:1226. https://doi.org/10.3390/life14101226.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Karlas T, Petroff D, Sasso M, Fan J-G, Mi Y-Q, De Lédinghen V, et al. Individual patient data meta-analysis of controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) technology for assessing steatosis. J Hepatol. 2017;66:1022–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2016.12.022.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Vos MB, Abrams SH, Barlow SE, Caprio S, Daniels SR, Kohli R, et al. NASPGHAN clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in children: recommendations from the expert committee on NAFLD (ECON) and the North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN). J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2017;64:319–34. https://doi.org/10.1097/MPG.0000000000001482.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Eslam M, Alkhouri N, Vajro P, Baumann U, Weiss R, Socha P, et al. Defining paediatric metabolic (dysfunction)-associated fatty liver disease: an international expert consensus statement. The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 2021;6:864–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-1253(21)00183-7.

    Article 

    Google Scholar 

  • ElSayed NA, Aleppo G, Aroda VR, Bannuru RR, Brown FM, Bruemmer D, et al. 2. Classification and Diagnosis of Diabetes: Standards of Care in Diabetes—2023. Diabetes Care. 2023;46Supplement_1:S19–40. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc23-S002

  • Fu CE, Teng M, Tung D, Ramadoss V, Ong C, Koh B, et al. Sex and race-ethnic disparities in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: an analysis of 40,166 individuals. Dig Dis Sci. 2024;69:3195–205. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-024-08540-4.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaheen M, Schrode KM, Pan D, Kermah D, Puri V, Zarrinpar A, et al. Sex-specific differences in the association between race/ethnicity and NAFLD among US population. Front Med. 2021;8:795421. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2021.795421.

    Article 

    Google Scholar 

  • Sabotta CM, Kwan S-Y, Petty LE, Below JE, Joon A, Wei P, et al. Genetic variants associated with circulating liver injury markers in Mexican Americans, a population at risk for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Front Genet. 2022;13:995488. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2022.995488.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Manusov EG, Diego VP, Almeida M, Ortiz D, Curran JE, Galan J, et al. Genotype-by-environment interactions in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and chronic illness among Mexican Americans: the role of acculturation stress. Genes. 2024;15:1006. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15081006.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Salvoza NC, Giraudi PJ, Tiribelli C, Rosso N. Sex differences in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: hints for future management of the disease. Exploration of Medicine. 2020;1:51–74. https://doi.org/10.37349/emed.2020.00005.

    Article 

    Google Scholar 

  • Chan KE, Ng CH, Fu CE, Quek J, Kong G, Goh YJ, et al. The spectrum and impact of metabolic dysfunction in MAFLD: a longitudinal cohort analysis of 32,683 overweight and obese individuals. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2023;21:2560-2569.e15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2022.09.028.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee J-H, Jeon S, Lee HS, Kwon Y-J. Association between waist circumference trajectories and incident non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Obes Res Clin Pract. 2023;17:398–404. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orcp.2023.09.005.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Manco M, Bedogni G, Marcellini M, Devito R, Ciampalini P, Sartorelli MR, et al. Waist circumference correlates with liver fibrosis in children with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Gut. 2008;57:1283–7. https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.2007.142919.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Xing Y, Fan J, Wang H-J, Wang H. Comparison of MAFLD and NAFLD characteristics in children. Children. 2023;10:560. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10030560.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Ye P, Gao L, Xia Z, Peng L, Shi X, Ma J, et al. Association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic abnormalities in children with different weight statuses. Public Health. 2024;235:160–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2024.06.004.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Flisiak-Jackiewicz M, Bobrus-Chociej A, Wasilewska N, Lebensztejn DM. From nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD)—new terminology in pediatric patients as a step in good scientific direction? JCM. 2021;10:924. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10050924.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis GF, Carpentier A, Adeli K, Giacca A. Disordered fat storage and mobilization in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Endocr Rev. 2002;23:201–29. https://doi.org/10.1210/edrv.23.2.0461.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawano Y, Cohen DE. Mechanisms of hepatic triglyceride accumulation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. J Gastroenterol. 2013;48:434–41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-013-0758-5.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang X, Chen Q, Su Q, Gong J, Wu L, Xiang L, et al. The mediation role of insulin resistance and chronic systemic inflammation in the association between obesity and NAFLD: two cross-sectional and a mendelian randomization study. CLEP. 2025;17:287–302. https://doi.org/10.2147/CLEP.S508514.

    Article 

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith SK, Perito ER. Nonalcoholic liver disease in children and adolescents. Clin Liver Dis. 2018;22:723–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cld.2018.07.001.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin S, Huang J, Wang M, Kumar R, Liu Y, Liu S, et al. Comparison of MAFLD and NAFLD diagnostic criteria in real world. Liver Int. 2020;40:2082–9. https://doi.org/10.1111/liv.14548.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Continue Reading