Affecting up to 30% of the adult population in western countries, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a worldwide public health problem [1,2]. Because 5% of individuals with NAFLD suffer from steatohepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, NAFLD is not only a global healthcare problem but is also associated with a high clinical and economic burden [2,3]. In addition, NAFLD has been shown to be associated with high risk for cardiometabolic diseases, extrahepatic malignancy, diabetes and lung diseases [4–6].
