Prospective Cohort and Biobank of Patients With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Inclusion criteria

• Participant must be ≥ 18 years of age at the time of signing the informed consent
• Participant willing to sign the informed consent form (ICF) and to complete all study-specific procedures and visits
• To have a diagnosis of NAFLD/NASH/MAFLD followed at Epatocentro Ticino and collaborating/referring clinicians based on:

• Liver biopsy with a histological evidence of NAFLD/NASH/MAFLD OR
• Liver imaging (ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, CAP Controlled Attenuation Parameter) OR
• Diagnosis of metabolic syndrome and liver fibrosis or cirrhosis without an alternative diagnosis; metabolic syndrome fulfilling one or more of the below mentioned conditions:

• Abdominal obesity: a waist circumference of more than 35 inches (>89cm) for women and more than 40 inches (>102 cm) for men;
• High blood pressure of 130/80 mm Hg or higher. Normal blood pressure is defined as less than 130 mm Hg for systolic pressure, and less than 80 mm Hg for diastolic pressure
• Impaired fasting blood glucose. This means a level equal to or greater than 100 mg/dL (>5.6 mmol/L)
• High triglyceride levels of more than 150 mg/dL (> 1.7mmol/L).
• Low HDL (good) cholesterol: less than 40 mg/dL (< 1.04 mmol/L) for men and less than 50 mg/dL (< 1.29 mmol/L) for women
• alcohol consumption less than 21 (males) or 14 (women) units per week in the 6 months before the enrolment and no history of excessive alcohol consumption in the 5 years before enrolment. One unit is 12g (grams) of pure alcohol; 10-12 grams of pure alcohol are contained in a 280-330 ml of beer, 150-180 ml of champagne, 30-40 ml of whisky or high-strength spirit, 60-80 ml of liqueur, and 100-120 ml of red wine

Exclusion criteria

• To have a diagnosis of type I diabetes mellitus
• To have a concomitant liver disease
• To take or have taken in the last 12 months before enrolment, on more than 50% of days, drugs that may cause liver steatosis (long-term high dose systemic corticosteroids (> 20mg prednisone equivalent), amiodarone, methotrexate, tamoxifen, tetracycline, high dose estrogens and valproic acid)
• Pregnancy and breast feeding.