The bidirectional relationship between fatty liver disease and COVID-19

Abstract

COVID-19 and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have emerged as global pandemics affecting millions of people worldwide over the past three years. NAFLD is particularly prevalent in individuals with metabolic comorbidities, such as diabetes and obesity, which have been strongly linked to a severe course of Sars-CoV-2 infection. Recently, due to the close association between metabolic abnormalities and NAFLD, the disease has been redefined as metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). This review offers an overview of the biological and cellular mechanisms by which COVID-19 can cause liver damage, with a specific focus on the influence of fatty liver in these mechanisms. Additionally, it explores how fatty liver can exacerbate a COVID-19 infection and, conversely, if the presence of COVID-19 may accelerate the development and progression of fatty liver. Finally, the review examines the existing evidence suggesting that NAFLD or MAFLD independently contributes to a heightened severity of COVID-19, while also considering other factors such as age and metabolic comorbidities that may play a role in the disease’s progression.