A Study on the Intervention of the ‘Soothing the Liver and Strengthening the Spleen’ Approach in T2DM complicated by MAFLD via the Lipid Droplet–Mitochondrial Axis mediated by Signalling Pathways

Abstract

Diabetes is rising rapidly worldwide. According to WHO data, there were 422 million people with diabetes globally by 2014, with developing countries accounting for 77 per cent of the global total; the risk of related complications and all-cause mortality has also increased accordingly [1]. This is accompanied by a continuous deterioration in metabolic function. Amongst these, metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), which is closely linked to metabolic dysfunction, has become the world’s leading chronic liver disease of the 21st century. Research statistics indicate that the global prevalence of MAFLD has reached as high as 25.24 per cent. MAFLD acts as a trigger for the progression from steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis and even liver cancer. Currently, MAFLD has risen to become the most prevalent liver disease in China. Statistics indicate that over the past decade, the proportion of patients with fatty liver disease in China has risen from 18 per cent to 29.2 per cent. As a common liver condition, MAFLD frequently co-occurs with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) [2]. They contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, cirrhosis, liver cancer and other malignant tumours, imposing a significant disease burden and economic impact on patients and society.