Highlights Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is among the most common chronic liver diseases, and, when untreated, can progress to cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes The liver secretes fat into the bloodstream on a precise daily schedule to fuel peripheral tissues and prevent fat accumulation, as seen in MASLD Salk Institute scientists found that production of a protein called FGF1 in the liver varies throughout the day to affect fat release timing from the liver into the bloodstream, acting as a circadian pacemaker for liver fat metabolism These findings illuminate a previously unknown circadian lipid trafficking mechanism in the liver, with implications for understanding how disrupted body clocks drive metabolic disease LA JOLLA—Every day, the liver packages fat and releases it into the bloodstream to fuel the body, supplying energy to the heart, muscles, and other organs during the active hours of the day. The liver does not release fat into the bloodstream at random. Like much of human physiology, this daily export of fat follows a precise rhythm, timed to the body’s internal clock. But what molecular signal tells the liver when to act?
The Verdict
Be the first to vote on this assessment.
Embed Badge
Add this badge to your site to show the AI classification for this content.
[](https://real.press/content/5583801b-2ff8-441b-a51b-8b893db67211)