Metabolic tandem targets: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus

According to the World Health Organization estimates, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) will be ranked number one in the liver diseases pattern by 2020. Liver transplantation in patients with cirrhosis as the outcome of NAFLD currently ranks next to the viral liver cirrhosis. According to current concepts, NAFLD is a liver disease defined as fatty dystrophy, fatty degeneration with inflammation and possible outcome in cirrhosis. The causal relationship between NAFLD and diabetes mellitus is the subject of numerous discussions. Insulin resistance is the binding pathogenetic link between one and the other disease. First of all, insulin resistance is carried out at the level of hepatocyte. Until now, there is no standard therapy for NAFLD. Correction of body weight, changes in food addiction, physical activity is the most effective measures to prevent the development of NAFLD and diabetes mellitus. None of the drugs used for the treatment of NAFLD has evidence base for the effect on the histological pattern of NAFLD.