Dietary carbohydrates and fatty liver disease: de novo lipogenesis

To review recent evidence for the role of dietary carbohydrate in de novo lipogenesis (DNL) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

A large body of evidence suggests that increased hepatic DNL is a significant pathway contributing to the development of NAFLD. Dietary carbohydrates, in particular, fructose, have been shown to stimulate DNL and increase liver fat, although it is debated whether this is due to excess energy or fructose per se. Recent dietary intervention studies conducted in energy balance show that high-fructose diets increase DNL and liver fat, whereas fructose restriction decreases DNL and liver fat.

The association of high-carbohydrate and high-sugar diets with NAFLD may in part be explained by the effect of sugar on increasing hepatic DNL.