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The year 2024 was momentous for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD): the approval of the first medication for treatment of at-risk metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, updated guidelines on the screening, diagnosis and treatment of MASLD, and liver stiffness measurement as an important surrogate marker for liver-related outcomes in MASLD.
The microbiota is critical for metabolic health. Studies published in 2024 have revealed mechanisms by which key bacterial and micro-eukaryotic organisms optimize energy production in our body and ensure efficient metabolic function.
Probiotics might prevent some necrotizing enterocolitis, late-onset sepsis and mortality in preterm infants. However, clinical practice varies widely, and families are often excluded from shared decision making. This Clinical Outlook highlights current evidence, clinical practice guidelines and the future outlook of probiotics in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Lymphatic vessels are important for fluid absorption and immune cell transport. This Review discusses the role of the intestinal lymphatic system in transport and inter-organ communication, exploring lipid absorption mechanisms, gut microenvironment influences, immune cell trafficking and intestinal lymphatics as a drug delivery system.
Cirrhosis morbidity and mortality are rising worldwide, with health disparities affecting minorities, people of low socioeconomic status, and underserved rural communities. This Review addresses inequities in cirrhosis management and liver transplantation, highlighting the immediate necessity for improving health equity.
In this Viewpoint, Maria Carmen Collado, Suzanne Devkota and Tarini Shankar Ghosh comment on the past and future of gut microbiome research and clinical applications.
Type 2 taste receptors (Tas2rs in mice and TAS2Rs in humans) detect bitter stimuli and are present in both the oral cavity and extraoral sites. In this Review, the authors discuss Tas2rs/TAS2Rs in the gastrointestinal enteroendocrine system and how they could be potential targets to prevent or treat metabolic disorders.
Twenty years since the launch of Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, developments in research and clinical practice continue apace. In our anniversary issue, we focus on the past, present and future of gastroenterology and hepatology.
Consumption of no and low-alcohol (NoLo) beverages is now commonplace in modern society. However, the debate surrounding the relative risks and benefits of these products is nuanced and evolving, particularly in patients with a history of alcohol use disorder or alcohol-related liver disease. This Comment summarizes the major individual and public health implications of NoLo drinks in order to help inform our interactions with these patient groups.
Apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter inhibitors have revolutionized care for children with genetic cholestasis. This Clinical Outlook discusses how this new class of drugs came into clinical practice and how they might benefit transplant-free survival for a multitude of indications.
Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel disorder, is caused by genetic and environmental factors disrupting gut homeostasis. This Review describes the role of pathobionts in the development of Crohn’s disease, highlighting known mechanisms, genetic mutations affecting homeostasis and potential microbiome-based therapeutic strategies.
The small intestinal microbiota has a key influence on digestion, immunity and nutrient metabolism but is poorly understood in comparison with the faecal and colonic microbiota. This Perspective discusses the features of the small intestinal microbiota, highlighting technical challenges, knowledge gaps and implications for health.
Thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine and thyroxine, are vital for metabolic homeostasis, and regulate essential hepatic functions. This Review summarizes the current knowledge of the role of thyroid hormones in the liver and examines the development of thyromimetics for liver disease.
