Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD): NAFLD Renamed to Reflect Metabolic Causes

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) is reported as an emerging health concern, particularly in India. The term replaces “Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)” to reflect metabolic causes linked to obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol.

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD):

Dimension	Key Details
Condition type	Provides for a long-lasting liver condition caused by having too much fat in the liver; often referred to as a “silent” disease.
Previous name and renaming trigger	Renaming from Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) to MASLD to better reflect the condition’s underlying causes.
Metabolic linkage	Highlights that the disease is a metabolic one linked to factors such as obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
Global prevalence	Being the most common form of liver disease in the world.
Spectrum of severity	Covers a spectrum from simple fatty liver (hepatic steatosis) to MASH, a more severe inflammatory liver disease previously known as NASH.
Symptoms	Often has no symptoms; if symptoms begin, they comprise fatigue (extreme tiredness), weakness, discomfort, or pain in the abdomen.
Symptoms	Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin), severe itching, fluid buildup in the belly (ascites), fluid buildup in the ankles (edema), and sometimes mental confusion.
Effect of MASH on liver	The liver to swell and become damaged.
Treatment	Healthy diet, physical activity, and weight loss to slow or even reverse liver damage, especially at an earlier stage.