Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and use of folate

Abstract

Folate is an essential water-soluble B vitamin that is required for nucleic acid biosynthesis, methylation reaction, and sulfur-containing amino acid metabolism. Depletion of folate perturbs folate-dependent one-carbon metabolism and is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is a common chronic liver disease and its prevalence increases significantly in patients with obesity and/or type 2 diabetes mellitus. As the incidence of obesity and diabetes continues to rise, NAFLD will emerge as a major threat to public health. Low serum folate levels are correlated with body mass index, severity of NAFLD, and diabetes. There is currently no approved pharmacological agent for NAFLD treatment. Nutrition-focused therapies represent a promising management strategy for metabolic diseases such as NAFLD. Understanding the role of folate in fatty liver disease may position this vitamin as a potential therapy for NAFLD.