Normal weight dyslipidemia: Is it all about the liver?

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Metabolic Syndrome
• Lipid Metabolism

Background:

• The liver is central to lipid metabolism and may influence dyslipidemia development, irrespective of obesity.
• Normal weight dyslipidemia (NWD) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in non-obese individuals represent a distinct group with metabolic deterioration.
• Understanding the liver's role in these conditions is crucial for metabolic health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the literature on the liver's function in dyslipidemia.
• To analyze the metabolic profiles of non-obese patients with NAFLD.
• To explore the connection between the liver, dyslipidemia, and metabolic health in the absence of obesity.

Main Methods:

• Literature search of PubMed using keywords: nonobese, dyslipidemia, NAFLD, NWD, liver, metabolically obese/unhealthy normal weight.
• Screening of article bibliographies for relevant citations.
• Inclusion of studies that measured dyslipidemia biomarkers.

Main Results:

• NWD and NAFLD without obesity exhibit comparable abnormal metabolic profiles.
• Metabolic abnormalities in non-obese NAFLD are similar to or less severe than in obese NAFLD.
• Hepatic lesions and dyslipidemia severity in NAFLD are independent of obesity.

Conclusions:

• NAFLD can disrupt hepatic lipid handling and homeostasis, initiating dyslipidemia in non-obese individuals.
• The liver's role in lipid metabolism is key to understanding dyslipidemia and related conditions in normal-weight individuals.
• NAFLD may be a primary driver of dyslipidemia and comorbidities in non-obese populations.