Pediatric Nutrition & Health and Food Science
Valentina Giorgio (1), Arianna Alterio (1), Luca Miele (2), Luigi Principessa (3), Anna Alisi (1), Valerio Nobili (1)
1U.O.C. di Malattie Epatometaboliche e Liver Research Unit, Ospedale Bambino Gesù di Roma2Divisione di Medicina Interna Complesso Integrato Columbus e Divisione di Gastroenterologia ed Epatologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Roma3Divisione di Pediatria, Ospedale Universitario Sant’Andrea di Roma
Non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases, also in children. It ranges from simple fat accumulation (steatosis), to inflammation and fibrosis [non alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)]. Gut microbiota is involved in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and its progression into NASH. Here we discuss about how the interaction between gut and liver, the so called “gut-liver axis”, appears to play a major role in NAFLD development and evolution.