SynthesisBMC public health2025
Association between exposure to air pollutants and NAFLD/MAFLD: a meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Impact of Air Pollution on Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Radiologic exposomics: imaging the environmental imprint on cancer for precision oncology.La Radiologia medica · 2026Review
- Mechanism of BaP- regulated hepatic lipid metabolism via AhR activation and AR modulation.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2026Article
- The Impact of Air Pollution on the Lung-Gut-Liver Axis: Oxidative Stress and Its Role in Liver Disease.Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most prevalent chronic liver disease globally, imposing a significant burden on public health systems. But the link between air pollutants and NAFLD is still unclear, which highlights the need for a systematic meta-analysis to integrate existing evidence.
objectiveThis study aims to systematically evaluate and quantify the association between exposure to major air pollutants and the risk of NAFLD through a meta-analysis of existing literature.
methodsA thorough search was conducted across Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library until February 4, 2025. Pooled risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for NAFLD incidence were calculated with Stata 16.0. Quality assessment was conducted via the NOS scale for cohort studies and the AHQR scale for cross-sectional studies.
resultsOur review included 10 studies. The results manifested that high concentrations of PM2.5 (RR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.18-1.44), PM10 (RR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.13-1.36), NO₂ (RR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.09-1.37) and NOx (RR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.14-1.36) notably increased NAFLD risk. Each unit increase in PM1 (RR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.13-1.17), PM2.5 (RR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.09-1.21), PM10 (RR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.08-1.11), NO₂ (RR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.08-1.19) and NOx (RR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.07-1.14) was also linked with increased NAFLD risk.
conclusionThe findings suggest plausible associations between exposure to various air pollutants and elevated NAFLD risk. However, high heterogeneity, limited studies, and methodological variability necessitate cautious interpretation and more rigorous research to confirm causality before guiding public health interventions. SIGNIFICANCE: Understanding the impact of air pollution on NAFLD is critical for developing targeted public health policies and prevention strategies, particularly in urbanized regions with high pollution levels.
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