Macro partitioning
Carriers of the TM6SF2 E167K genetic variant exhibit increased susceptibility to progressive nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and advanced fibrosis due to impaired hepatic secretion of very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), resulting in toxic triglyceride accumulation in hepatocytes.
If you have the TM6SF2 E167K genetic variant, your liver is less efficient at exporting fat. This means fat builds up in your liver cells, causing inflammation and scarring (NASH/fibrosis) even if your blood lipid levels are low. Standard 'fatty liver is benign' advice may be dangerous for you; you require closer monitoring of liver health via biopsy or advanced imaging if risk factors are present.
Carriers of the TM6SF2 E167K variant are more susceptible to progressive NASH, but are protected against cardiovascular disease. Our findings suggest that reduced ability to export VLDLs is deleterious for the liver.
Why this rating
Large cohort (n=1,201) with liver biopsy confirmation and robust statistical adjustment for confounders.
Source
Transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2 gene variant disentangles nonalcoholic steatohepatitis from cardiovascular disease
Paola Dongiovanni et al. · Hepatology · 2014
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →