Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent chronic liver condition that poses a significant threat to human health globally. Recent studies have established a strong correlation between liver diseases and hypoxic environments, revealing varying degrees of tissue hypoxia during the progression of NAFLD, chronic hepatitis, and cirrhosis. Liver tissue is susceptible to damage in low-oxygen environments, such as those found at high altitudes, which significantly increases the prevalence of NAFLD. Concurrently, hypoxia can induce oxidative stress, leading to insulin resistance (IR), mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammatory responses, and disturbances in intestinal flora. Changes in these levels can disrupt liver function, trigger lipid deposition, and ultimately lead to hepatocyte death. Additionally, the enhanced inflammatory response of various immune cells can further accelerate the progression of hepatic fibrosis, deepening the degree of hypoxia. This creates a vicious cycle that ultimately aggravates disease progression. By modifying dietary habits, avoiding hypoxic environments, providing appropriate treatment for drugs that affect IR, and rationally using medications that balance intestinal flora, effective strategies for preventing and improving NAFLD may be developed. In summary, this paper discusses the research progress related to plateau hypoxia and NAFLD, and it summarizes the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of NAFLD in conjunction with its pathogenesis.
Zhao et al. (Wed,) studied this question.