The liver is an essential organ for body energy homeostasis, controlling the biosynthesis, uptake and the disposal of carbohydrates and lipids. The hepatic steatosis is a common condition frequently associated with metabolic diseases and is characterized by the excessive accumulation of triglycerides in the liver. In recent years, many efforts have been devoted to prevent and treat the hepatic steatosis, but it remains being pointed out as the major cause for chronic hepatic diseases in Western countries. A considerable part of the knowledge about the physiopathology of hepatic steatosis, the effects of diets and drugs on the metabolic capacity of the liver to metabolize fatty acids, as well as the potential therapeutic approaches for hepatic steatosis... |