Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is heralded as the next big global epidemic. Hepatic de novo lipogenesis\n(DNL), the synthesis of new fatty acids from non-lipid sources, is thought to play a pivotal role in the development\nof NAFLD. While there is currently no NAFLD-specific therapeutic agent available, pharmaceutical drugs aimed at\nreducing hepatic fat accretion may prove to be a powerful ally in the treatment and management of this disease.\nWith a focus on NAFLD, the present review summarizes current techniques examining DNL from a clinical\nperspective, and describes the merits and limitations of three commonly used assays; stable-label isotope tracer\nstudies, fatty acid indexes and indirect calorimetry as non-invasive measures of hepatic DNL. Finally, the application\nof DNL assessments in the pharmacological and nutraceutical treatment of NAFLD/NASH is summarized. In a\nclinical research setting, measures of DNL are an important marker in the development of anti-NAFLD treatments.
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