Prof Dr M.C.G.J. Brouwers

1. Cardiometabolic consequences of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

NAFLD consists of a histological spectrum comprising simple steatosis, steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis and cirrhosis. Evidence is accumulating that NAFLD is not only a liver disease per se, it is also a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome and cardiovascular disease. This research project focuses on establishing a causal relationship between NAFLD and these cardiometabolic disorders, and on identifying potential mediators, as recently reviewed in Diabetologia and Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism.

This research is in part funded by the Netherlands Heart Foundation and the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes.

 

2. Aberrant fructose metabolism

Fructose is one of the predominant sugars present in processed foods. Fructose is specifically metabolized in the gut, liver and kidney, and, therefore, believed to have more disadvantageous health effects than other sugars. This research project focuses on the metabolic effects of fructose in fructose-metabolizing tissues, in particular the liver. Moreover, it focuses on the quality of life, treatment desires, long-term complications and potential new treatment modalities in patients with inborn errors of metabolism. The results have recently been reviewed in Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences.

This research is in part funded by the Dutch Diabetes Foundation, Stofwisselkracht, and United for Metabolic Disease