Hepatic steatosis, formerly known simply as fat accumulation in the liver, has recently been reclassified by the international consensus of experts as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). This change in nomenclature reflects a new understanding of the condition, which is no longer seen as an isolated finding on ultrasound examinations but has taken on the role of an important systemic risk marker.
Estimates from the Brazilian Society of Hepatology (SBH) and publications from international health agencies indicate that approximately three in ten adults present excessive accumulation of triglycerides in hepatocytes. This number represents a significant advance of the disease, which has established itself as one of the clinical conditions with the greatest growth in modern medicine.
The scenario is driven by central factors of contemporary life, including hypercaloric eating rich in refined sugars and saturated fats, sedentary lifestyle, insulin resistance, and excess visceral fat. Because it is an asymptomatic condition in its early stages, the disease frequently goes unnoticed by patients, which further increases the concern of public health authorities.
