Perspective: nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular risk.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as a clear risk factor for cardiovascular risk. Through its association with metabolic syndrome including insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, NAFLD certainly has strong indirect associations with cardiovascular risk. Recent population studies have strengthened the association with prevalent coronary heart disease. Investigative cardiology has shown that NAFLD is also associated with markers of subclinical atherosclerosis, such as diminished endothelial function and carotid artery intima-media thickening. Though causality between NAFLD and cardiovascular disease can only be tested in a clinical trial, these recent findings do emphasize the need to develop strategies including nutritional that may prevent NAFLD.