Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Science Communicator Platform

Stay connected! Follow us on X network (Twitter):
Share this content! On (X network) By
Association Between Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Heavy Metal Exposure: A Systematic Review Publisher Pubmed



Sadighara P1 ; Abedini AH1 ; Irshad N2 ; Ghazikhansari M2 ; Esrafili A3 ; Yousefi M3, 4
Authors
Show Affiliations
Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Food Safety Division, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Student Research Committee, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Source: Biological Trace Element Research Published:2023


Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a debilitating disease with adverse effects including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Heavy metals can cause severe dysfunction in different body organs including the liver. This review offers the study regarding the positive or negative association between heavy metals exposure and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The method used in this study is a systematic review based on searching in the PubMed, Scopus, and Science direct databases with the keywords of fatty liver, non-alcohol fatty liver, heavy metal, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, thallium, lead, iron, zinc, and nickel. There were 2200 articles searched in databases, and after assessment, 28 articles were selected. Positive association is established between arsenic, cadmium, iron, lead, mercury, and fatty liver disease. A negative relationship is found between zinc, copper, and progressive fatty liver disease. Furthermore, laboratory methods for NAFLD diagnosis were examined according to the obtained manuscripts. Among the different diagnostic methods, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a sensitive method. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
Related Docs
1. Origin, Dietary Exposure, and Toxicity of Endocrine-Disrupting Food Chemical Contaminants: A Comprehensive Review, Heliyon (2023)
2. Determination and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals Content in Some Common Drinks in Tehran, Iran, Journal of Agriculture and Food Research (2025)
3. Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Treatment: Transition Metal Complexes As Successful Candidates in Medicine, Coordination Chemistry Reviews (2025)
4. Quantification and Human Health Risk Assessment of Cadmium and Lead in Wheat Flour on the Iranian Market by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering (2023)
Experts (# of related papers)
Parisa Sadighara (3)