Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in Asia-Oceania

Metabolic syndrome, i.e., obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance with hyperinsulinemia is a new disease entity prevailing worldwide and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is believed to be a hepatic expression of this syndrome. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is prevalent and well characterized in Caucasians, however, little is known about nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in Asia-Oceania, because obesity has not been frequent in these countries. Obesity is sure to be a serious social problem in Asia-Oceania in the next two decades and we need to prevent the increase of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. For that purpose, we need to know much about not only nonalcoholic steatohepatitis but also ourselves, as this syndrome is believed to be based not only on genetic but also environmental background. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.