Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) refers to liver steatosis, i.e., over-storage of fat, mainly triglycerides, in the hepatocytes, without other causes for secondary hepatic fat accumulation [1]. NAFLD has rapidly become the most frequent chronic liver disease, with a prevalence ranging in adults from 20 % to 44 % [2]. This rising prevalence parallels the worldwide increase in obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome [3]. The recent change in terminology, i.e., from NAFLD [4] to metabolic-dysfunction associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) [5], to metabolic-dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) [6], points to the close link between liver steatosis and metabolic disorders [7].
