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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Journal of Morphological Sciences 2016; 33(02): 121-128
DOI: 10.4322/jms.098215
Review Article
Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Could sugar intake initiate or aggravate non-alcoholic fatty liver during aging? An integrative review

A. C. S. Teodoro
1   Laboratory of Morphoquantitative Studies and Immunohistochemistry, Aging Sciences, Universidade São Judas Tadeu - USJT, Rua Taquari, 546, CEP 03166-000, Mooca, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
,
R. A. B. Nucci
1   Laboratory of Morphoquantitative Studies and Immunohistochemistry, Aging Sciences, Universidade São Judas Tadeu - USJT, Rua Taquari, 546, CEP 03166-000, Mooca, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
,
E. F. Gama
2   Laboratory of Morphoquantitative Studies and Immunohistochemistry, Department of Physical Education, Universidade São Judas Tadeu - USJT, Rua Taquari, 546, CEP 03166-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
,
G. M. Rodrigues
3   Department of Physical Education, Universidade São Judas Tadeu - USJT, Rua Taquari, 546, CEP 03166-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
,
A. Machado-Lima
4   Post Graduation Course, Aging Sciences, Universidade São Judas Tadeu - USJT, Rua Taquari, 546, CEP 03166-000, Mooca, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

10 February 2015

23 February 2016

Publication Date:
16 October 2018 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is part of the metabolic syndrome (MS) which is a clustering of risk factors that increase the incidence of cardiovascular events and diabetes mellitus (DM). The population aging process brings with it higher prevalence of MS. The prevalence of NAFLD has increased considerably, simultaneously with the expansion of MS, ranging from 15% to 25% in the general population. In Brazil, overweight plus obesity corresponds to 40% of the adult population and the prevalence found in the elderly age group reaches 81%. Thus, the carbohydrate intake has been identified as a key factor for the development of NAFLD. Objective: The purpose of this integrative review is to assess whether the sugar consumption by adults and elders may influence in the development and progression of NAFLD in individuals with or without metabolic syndrome. Materials and methods: The integrative review search was performed on PubMed database during September 2015. The selection criteria was adults and elderly people; sugar intake, such as, glucose or fructose; liver fat or NAFLD. Our major outcome was the hepatic profile because it is related to the sugar intake. We excluded review papers and studies with animals, as well as papers that were not related to our selection criteria. Results: The studies analyzed the sugar intake on hepatic de novo lipogenesis or NAFLD. Conclusion: We conclude in the most of the articles sugar intake and NAFLD have a positive correlation. However further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism that sugars intake, mainly fructose, leads to NAFLD, or aggravating it.

Keywords

non-alcoholic fatty liver disease - NAFLD - sugar intake - fructose - aging