Fig. 2

The pathogenesis of NAFLD in Western medicine. The risk of developing NAFLD is determined by environmental and genetic factors. High-fat diet-induced insulin resistance and disruptions in hepatic lipid metabolism, such as imbalances in lipid synthesis and catabolism or impaired lipid transport, result in the excessive accumulation of lipids in hepatocytes. Concurrently, factors such as lipotoxicity, endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial dysfunction contribute to the inflammation and apoptosis of overloaded hepatocytes. Inflammation can exacerbate hepatocyte injury and stimulate hepatic stellate cell activation, leading to hepatic fibrosis. Additionally, the interplay between the liver, adipose tissue and the gut contributes to metabolic dysregulation and inflammation in NAFLD