This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Fatty liver disease is characterized by the accumulation of triglycerides—a type of fat—in the liver. The disease has a strong genetic component, but until now, knowledge about which genes influence its development has been limited. To gain a better understanding, researchers at Karolinska Institutet analyzed genetic data and MRI scans from 71,488 people of European descent in the British UK Biobank database.

This is the largest study to date in which researchers have examined the entire genome while simultaneously measuring liver fat levels using MRI. The research is published in the journal Nature Genetics.

The researchers identified 60 independent genetic regions linked to liver fat levels. Of these, 31 had not previously been reported for this trait. The study estimates that common genetic variants can explain about 25% of the differences in liver fat between individuals.

"By nearly doubling the number of known genetic regions linked to liver fat, we gain a more detailed understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying fatty liver disease," says Stefano Romeo, professor at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet.

The researchers also used various methods to identify which genes are likely affected by the genetic variations. For 48 of the 60 genetic regions, they were able to identify genes that likely play a role in the development of fatty liver disease.

The researchers also developed a genetic risk scale based on numerous genetic variants.

Source link