Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: From Pathophysiology to Prevention Strategies

A Special Issue of Metabolites (ISSN 2218-1989) belonging to the section "Endocrinology and Clinical Metabolic Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2026 | Viewed by 995

Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
2. Jangheung County Public Health Center, Jangheung-gun 59327, Republic of Korea
Interests: epidemiology; preventive medicine; public health

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Interests: metabolic syndrome; lifestyle medicine; physical activity; nutrition; pri-mary care
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) represents a major and growing public health concern, ranking among the most common liver diseases globally. Previously termed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the condition has been redefined to emphasize its close association with metabolic dysfunction, moving away from terminology focused on alcohol use. MASLD is currently regarded as a major metabolic disorder that negatively impacts the health of the global population. Research efforts are actively working to elucidate the biological mechanisms, metabolic biomarkers and metabolic pathways that underlie its pathophysiology.

In recent years, this emerging concept of MASLD has attracted significant attention from both public health experts and clinicians. MASLD is projected to cause a substantial health and economic burden in the coming decades. Therefore, understanding the epidemiology of MASLD is essential for determining its prevalence and distribution and for identifying at-risk populations. Recent epidemiological studies indicate that various cardiometabolic risk factors and complex socioeconomic determinants interplay in the pathogenesis of MASLD. However, we do not yet fully understand how the diverse range of risk factors—from genetic predispositions and lifestyle choices to socioeconomic positions and environmental exposures—collectively influence the onset and prognosis of MASLD. Research in this area is expected to provide novel insights into the etiology of MASLD, which can inform the development of effective preventive policies and clinical interventions.

The goal of this Special Issue is to showcase a collection of high-quality studies on the broad topic of MASLD, spanning its biological pathways, diagnosis and prevention. We welcome submissions of novel research conducted across diverse populations and geographic regions that address these critical knowledge gaps.

Dr. Seong-Uk Baek
Dr. Caroline Rhéaume
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-anonymized 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.

Keywords

  • steatotic liver disease
  • epidemiology
  • MASLD
  • MAFLD
  • non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
  • liver metabolism
  • liver diseases
  • hepatic steatosis

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

15 pages, 941 KB  
Article
Association of Domain-Specific Physical Activities with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Workers: A Focus on Gender Differences
by Seong-Uk Baek and Jin-Ha Yoon
Metabolites 2026, 16(7), 454; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo16070454 - 28 Jun 2026
Viewed by 592
Abstract
Objectives: Occupational physical activity (OPA) and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) have contrasting health effects, a phenomenon known as the “physical activity paradox.” We explored the domain-specific associations between physical activity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 20,584 Korean [...] Read more.
Objectives: Occupational physical activity (OPA) and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) have contrasting health effects, a phenomenon known as the “physical activity paradox.” We explored the domain-specific associations between physical activity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 20,584 Korean workers (10,846 women). Physical activity was assessed using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, and NAFLD was assessed using the hepatic steatosis index and the presence of metabolic dysfunction. Logistic regression models were employed to explore the association between each domain of physical activity and NAFLD. The associations are presented as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The prevalence of NAFLD was 30.6% in men and 18.1% in women. For male workers, ≥300 min/week of OPA was positively associated with NAFLD (OR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.15–1.72), while ≥300 min/week of LTPA was negatively associated with NAFLD (OR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.67–0.93). In female workers, LTPA was negatively associated with NAFLD from a lower level (OR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.52–0.78 for 1–149 min/week; OR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.56–0.89 for 150–299 min/week; OR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.43–0.78 for ≥300 min/week of LTPA), while OPA had no clear association with NAFLD. Conclusions: OPA and LTPA were differentially associated with NAFLD in workers. Domain- and sex-specific effects of physical activity should be considered for the prevention and management of NAFLD. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop