Metabolic Syndrome (MetSyn), defined by central obesity, impaired glucose/insulin homeostasis, high blood pressure and atherogenic dyslipidemia, is increasing worldwide. Lifestyles play an important role as preventive determinants of MetSyn, conversely being potential inducers of MetSyn. Liver steatosis has been considered not only the hepatic MetSyn manifestation, but also one of the earliest MetSyn manifestations. Liver steatosis may stimulate inflammation that can further progress to cirrhosis and cancer [the entire spectrum of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)].

We invite authors to submit original research and review articles, including basic and clinical studies that pursue the cross-talk between diet and/or physical exercise with central obesity, oxidative damage, endoplasmic reticulum stress, mitochondrial (dys)function, inflammation, insulin resistance, glucocorticoid excess, metabolic reprogramming, and gut microbiota in MetSyn features, particularly in NAFLD.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Mechanisms by which high-fructose, high-fat and/or low-mineral diets induce NAFLD and MetSyn
• Mechanisms by which physical exercise modulates NAFLD and MetSyn
• Epigenetic mechanisms behind NAFLD and MetSyn
• Diet and physical exercise-induced metabolic reprogramming in NAFLD and MetSyn
• The role of physical exercise and diet in gut microbiota composition and activity
• The role of gut microbiota in NAFLD and MetSyn
• The role of physical exercise and diet in inflammation, oxidative damage, and endoplasmic reticulum stress
• The role of inflammation, oxidative damage and endoplasmic reticulum stress in glucocorticoid and insulin pathways dysfunction in NAFLD and MetSyn
• Mitochondrial (dys)function and endoplasmic reticulum stress in NAFLD and MetSyn
• Visceral obesity in NAFLD and MetSyn: pathophysiological aspects and non- pharmacological therapeutic options
• Lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, and mitochondrial (dys)function in NAFLD and MetSyn
• New NAFLD and MetSyn-related phenotypes markers
• Early life nutrition and the programming of NAFLD and MetSyn