Muriel · International journal of molecular sciences 2021 · narrative review · n=?

Fructose and the Liver.

Cited 155 times in the scientific literature.

Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data

Narrative review synthesizing mechanisms and prior studies without systematic review methodology or new human data.

PubMed 34203484 · doi:10.3390/ijms22136969 · record verified 2026-08-27

What was done

Narrative review summarizing preclinical and clinical evidence on the role of fructose overconsumption in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis, and liver cancer.

What was found

The abstract reports no quantitative data, effect sizes, or numerical values. It describes qualitative associations where fructose intake correlates with the degree of liver inflammation and fibrosis, and activates proinflammatory, fibrogenic, and oncogenic signaling pathways.

Why it matters

It emphasizes dietary fructose as a key metabolic driver in the progression from simple steatosis to hepatic fibrosis and malignancy.

Limits

Narrative review design without systematic search criteria or quantitative synthesis. No primary human data, specific intake thresholds, or patient demographics are provided in the abstract.

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