Management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with sarcopenia

Sarcopenia usually occurs with aging, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy dietary habits, and chronic disorders pathophysiologically and bi-directionally linked to obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Because of the global increase in aging and obesity populations, patients with concomitant sarcopenia and NAFLD are common, accompanied by various disorders relevant to obesity and sarcopenia, with across-the-board impact on socio-economic and public health life worldwide. Therefore, developing effective and practical management of these patients has become a pressing clinical issue.

The authors searched literature from PubMed and Ovid MEDLINE up until Feb 2020. Emerging data on the management of sarcopenia and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease were examined and discussed.

Although NAFLD in patients with sarcopenia has become a critical problem worldwide, we still don't know much about the management of such patients. Based on theoretical speculations, we can recommend lifestyle intervention, including diet control with adequate protein intake, exercise intervention, and weight reduction as the mainstay of management at the first stage. More studies are needed in the future to identify the most suitable treatment and solve this important problem.