Parallels between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic fatty pancreatic disease: looking for points of contact or regard through the lens of metabolic syndrome

Abstract

The aim. The aim of our study was to analyze the available data from literature sources concerning the issues of etiology, pathogenesis, clinic, diagnosis and features of treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic fatty pancreatic disease (NAFPD).Materials and methods. We conducted a retrospective analysis of foreign literature sources that contain up-to-date information about the state of the problem of NAFLD and NAFPD.Results. NAFLD and NAFPD develop against the background of metabolic syndrome (MS), systemic insulin resistance, oxidative stress, changes in lipid metabolism. The natural course of NAFPD is associated with high risk of MS progression, occurrence of NAFLD, arterial hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, acute and chronic pancreatitis, pancreas cancer. Correction of the components of MS can reduce the severity of NAFLD and NAFPD; enzyme replacement therapy can improve the function of β-cells in pancreas steatosis.Conclusion. The alternatives of the pharmacological treatment of NAFLD and NAFPD continue to be actively explored. We emphasize the need of including medications containing pancreatic enzymes in the treatment of NAFLD.