Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now the leading etiology of chronic hepatitis in the Western world and the only one for which global prevalence is steadily rising over time. In the last years, there have been substantial advances in our understanding of the epidemiology, the (non-invasive) diagnostic methods (including omics technologies), the natural history and the major risk factors for advanced liver disease in NAFLD, including genetic variants and the gut microbiota. Promising results have also arisen from drugs targeting metabolic pathways involved in the progression of liver damage. Recently, international experts also proposed redefining NAFLD as metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), but the impact of this name change on risk prediction of both hepatic and extra-hepatic outcomes is not known.

Therefore, we invite Original Articles, Meta-analyses, Narrative Reviews, Mini Reviews or Commentaries focusing on novel or the most-updated information on NAFLD/MAFLD Studies. Major Research Topics of this Special issue are as follows:

1. Debate on renaming/redefining the condition
2. Models for research
3. Optimization of research design
4. Global differences in NAFLD/MAFLD prevalence and risk factors
5. Pathogenesis and modifiable risk factors
6. Effects of co-morbidities on prevalence and progression
7. Novel diagnostics
8. Therapy – medical and surgical
9. Non-cirrhotic hepatic complications
10. Extra-hepatic complications

Priority will be given with the same high standards of peer review and publication process for these articles. All publications will open free access to all readers. We guarantee that all accepted papers related to NAFLD/MAFLD research will be highlighted in a special section on our website.

Publication date: An article will be published online as soon as it is accepted.