Metformin for the Treatment of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

NAFLD is a poorly understood disease which may cause an enlarged liver, abnormal liver test
results, and scarring of the liver. It may occur more often in people with obesity, high
levels of cholesterol (blood fats), diabetes (high blood sugar), or the insulin resistance
syndrome (where a person's body does not respond to the hormone insulin which helps keep
blood sugar levels normal). Currently, no effective drug treatment for NAFLD exists. There
is increasing evidence that NAFLD may be a condition due to a problem with metabolism (the
way your body uses energy). Previous studies have shown that high glucose (sugar) levels
may play an important role in the development of fatty liver disease. Medications that
decrease your natural glucose level may reduce the amount of fat in the liver and,
therefore, might be useful in the treatment of NAFLD. Metformin, a drug approved by the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in patients with diabetes, has been shown to
improve fatty liver in animals and in a small number of human beings.