Scientists at the Karolinska Institutet discovered 31 previously unknown genetic regions associated with the amount of fat in the liver. The research team identified a total of 60 genetic regions linked to liver fat levels and published their findings in Nature Genetics.
To reach these conclusions, the study examined MRI scans and genetic data from 71,488 individuals of European descent within the UK Biobank. Common genetic variations explain approximately 25 per cent of the differences in liver fat levels between different people.
Of the 60 regions identified, the researchers found likely disease-related genes in 48 of them. Stefano Romeo, a professor at Karolinska Institutet’s Department of Medicine in Huddinge, said, "By almost doubling the number of known genetic regions linked to liver fat, we get a clearer picture of the biological processes behind fatty liver disease."
The team created a genetic risk score using various genetic variants to assess individual susceptibility. Individuals with the highest scores showed a greater likelihood of developing liver cancer and fatty liver disease compared to those with the lowest scores.
The study's participants were exclusively of European descent.
