Carolina Vasconcellos

Carolina Vasconcellos

Laboratório de Nutrição, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

4Years (2023-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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23 January 2023 in Biomedicines
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CVCarolina Vasconcellos
Carolina Vasconcellos
OFOureana Ferreira
Oureana Ferreira
MLMarta Filipa Lopes
Marta Filipa Lopes
ARAndré Filipe Ribeiro
André Filipe Ribeiro
JVJoão Vasques
João Vasques
Catarina Sousa GuerreiroCatarina Sousa Guerreiro
Catarina Sousa Guerreiro
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic condition associated with genetic and environmental factors in which fat abnormally accumulates in the liver. NAFLD is epidemiologically associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Environmental factors, such as physical inactivity and an unbalanced diet, interact with genetic factors, such as epigenetic mechanisms and polymorphisms for the genesis and development of the condition. Different genetic polymorphisms seem to be involved in this context, including variants in PNPLA3, TM6SF2, PEMT, and CHDH genes, playing a role in the disease’s susceptibility, development, and severity. From carbohydrate intake and weight loss to omega-3 supplementation and caloric restriction, different dietary and nutritional factors appear to be involved in controlling the onset and progression of NAFLD conditions influencing metabolism, gene, and protein expression. The polygenic risk score represents a sum of trait-associated alleles carried by an individual and seems to be associated with NAFLD outcomes depending on the dietary context. Understanding the exact extent to which lifestyle interventions and genetic predispositions can play a role in the prevention and management of NAFLD can be crucial for the establishment of a personalized and integrative approach to patients.