Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease and Sarcopenia: Review of Literature

In 2023, the terminology of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) was proposed. MASLD uses metabolic abnormalities as an inclusion criterion. On the other hand, sarcopenia is defined by decrease in muscle mass and muscle strength. Skeletal muscle can be affected by insulin resistance (IR), and it is the largest site of insulin-stimulated glucose disposal. In recent years, advances in treatment have extended the life expectancy of patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Due to the aging population, aging-related primary sarcopenia is expected to increase. On the other hand, liver fibrosis is an important treatment target associated with the onset of serious adverse events and poor prognosis in MASLD. The liver is the central organ for nutrition and metabolism, and patients with CLD may develop secondary sarcopenia due to various nutritional and metabolic disorders unrelated to aging. There is a strong correlation between sarcopenia, muscle fatty degeneration, liver fibrosis and IR in MASLD. MASLD and sarcopenia have a bidirectional relationship, forming a vicious cycle. In this review, we will summarize the relationship between MASLD and sarcopenia based on the current knowledge.