Gut microbiota in obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease worldwide with prevalence estimates ranging from 25% to 45%, increasing in parallel with that of obesity and diabetes. There are inherent links between the liver and the gut, with the two are all budding from the entoderm during development. The gut microbiota is a central regulator of host metabolism. The composition and function of the gut microbiota is dynamic and affected by many factors. The gut microbiota has been shown to affect lipid metabolism and lipid levels in blood and tissues, both in mice and humans. Furthermore, diseases linked to dyslipidemia, such as non-alcoholic liver disease and atherosclerosis, are associated with changes in gut microbiota profile. This review explores the role of the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, as well as the prospects of microbiota and treatment of the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.