Commentary
Metabolomic studies suggest plasma levels of bile acids are elevated amongst subjects with NAFLD compared to healthy controls. However, it remains unclear whether or not specific bile acids are associated with the clinically relevant transition from NAFLD to NASH, or enhanced progression of hepatic fibrosis, or genetic determinants of NAFLD/NASH. Among 102 subjects undergoing diagnostic liver biopsy, the authors examined the associations of a broad panel of bile acids with distinct histopathological features of NAFLD, the presence of NASH, and their associations with genetic variants linked to NAFLD and NASH.
The authors conclude that circulating bile acid levels are associated with histopathological and genetic determinants of the transition from simple hepatic steatosis into NASH.
