Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: beyond the liver is an emerging multifaceted systemic disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most frequent liver disease in the world and is characterized by an accumulation of intrahepatic triglycerides above 5% of hepatocytes in the absence of significant alcohol use and other causes recognized to induce fatty liver (1). Its prevalence is increasing, reflecting the global epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D).