Application of lipid- regulating drugs in non- alcoholic fatty liver disease

Non- alcoholic fatty liver disease( NAFLD) is a clinical syndrome which is characterized by diffuse fatty degeneration of hepatocytes without excessive use of alcohol,and it is one of the most common causes of abnormal liver function and chronic liver disease. Although the etiology and pathogenesis of NAFLD have not been well defined,the pathological basis of NAFLD is fatty degeneration of hepatocytes. On the one hand,the lipid- regulating drugs can reduce blood lipids to decrease liver fat deposition; on the other hand,they can promote lipid accumulation in the liver to increase liver injury. So there is still controversy that if the lipid- regulating drugs can be used for treating NAFLD. In this paper,the application and progression of four lipid- regulating drugs,statins,fibrates,probucol,and ezetimibe,in NAFLD are briefly described.