What Is Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease?

While it’s normal and healthy for the liver to contain some fat, if more than 5 to 10 percent of the liver’s weight is fat, it’s called a fatty liver, also known as steatosis.

When inflammation and liver cell damage occur along with fat in the liver, it’s called metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Per the NIDDK, MASH is a type of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and it affects about 1 out of 5 people with MASLD.

Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatotic Liver Disease vs. Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease

MASLD and alcohol-associated liver disease are the two most common forms of chronic liver disease in the United States right now, according to Christina Lindenmeyer, MD, a gastroenterologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

The primary difference is indicated in the names of the diseases: Alcohol-associated liver disease is linked with alcohol ingestion, and metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease is associated with metabolic syndrome — a group of health risks that includes obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and a large waistline — says Dr. Lindenmeyer.