Mediterranean diet in liver steatosis: the role of polyphenols

In the last decades the diagnosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was increasingly evoked in clinical practice. Central obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, diabetes and metabolic syndrome, are the risk factors largely associated to the development and the progression of NAFLD. The recent worldwide spread of NAFLD is clearly linked with the sedentary lifestyle and changes in dietary profile characterized by "junk food" and higher energy intake typical of industrializated and developing Countries. In literature were reported the beneficial effects of Mediterranean diet, rich in fruit, vegetables and slightly processed cereals, and extra-vergin olive oil as the main fat of the diet, all foods richs in polyphenols, a heterogeneous class of plant derived compounds, that include several hydro soluble antioxidants, effective in the treatment of different metabolic disorders. Few clinical studies were focused on the polyphenols use in NAFLD patients. However, information obtained in this studiesreported the improvement of liver steatosis degree when polyphenols supplementation is associated with lifestyle changes. In conclusion, it can be stated that polyphenols are biomolecules which present hepatoprotective effects because they reduce liver fat accumulation and decrease oxidative stress and inflammation, the two main factors responsible for liver damage. These evidences suggest a new potential and natural approach to treat patients with NAFLD.