Metabolomics and MASLD: Pathways, Biomarkers, and Clinical Insights

Dear Colleagues,

Historically defined with a negative connotation as “non-alcoholic”, steatosis due to metabolic origin was renamed metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver/steatotic liver disease (MAFLD and MASLD) in 2020 and 2023, respectively. The new nomenclatures highlight metabolic dysfunction as a pathogenic factor and a positive diagnostic criterion. However, metabolic dysfunction is common in the adult population regardles of the presence of steatosis, and not all individuals with steatosis have significant insulin resistance. Therefore, understanding the molecular pathways associated with progressive liver disease and extra-hepatic outcomes in a subset of individuals is crucial for the discovery of novel biomarkers, therapeutic strategies and precision medicine approaches in the MAFLD/MASLD field. It is challenging to differentiate the contribution of the systemic milieu from that of liver disease itself, given the close association of MASLD with the metabolic syndrome and the impact of liver disease on metabolic dysfunction.

In light of this background, this Special Issue focuses on original studies and reviews, experimental and clinical scientific contributions that address systemic and liver-specific metabolome changes. The translational impact on MASLD prevention, screening, diagnosis, risk assessment (of hepatic and extra-hepatic manifestations and complications), monitoring and treatment in children, adolescents, adults, and elderly individuals with normal or deficient immunity is a key focus of this issue. Accurate phenotyping, age- and sex-specific data analysis are essential to bridge the current knowledge gap and  ensure that the findings are applicable for translational purposes and potentially suitable for widespread use.

Dr. Amedeo Lonardo
Prof. Dr. Ralf Weiskirchen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Metabolites is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.