Mayo Clinic researchers identify five subtypes of fatty liver disease

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic, in collaboration with Virginia Tech, have discovered that metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)—formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease—is not a single condition. Instead, it consists of five biologically distinct subtypes.

According to the study published in Nature Communications, these subtypes carry different risks for liver failure, cancer, heart disease, and the need for transplants. While some forms are linked to obesity and diabetes, others are driven by inherited genetic factors. Notably, genetic subtypes can lead to advanced liver damage even in individuals without typical metabolic risk factors.

By combining genetic sequencing with clinical data from over 4,600 patients, scientists identified patterns of disease progression that were previously hidden. Bioinformatician Shulan Tian noted that separating these subtypes allows for therapies to be better aligned with the specific biology driving the disease, potentially enabling more precise screening and personalized treatment.