India, June 2 -- A large multicenter clinical trial has found that individuals with hepatic steatosis-commonly known as fatty liver disease-have significantly more rupture-prone plaque in their coronary arteries and nearly twice the rate of heart attacks and related cardiovascular events compared to those without the condition.

Although fatty liver disease has long been associated with an increased risk of heart disease, the biological mechanism behind this link has remained unclear. The new study, published on May 20 in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, identifies a specific pathway that helps explain the connection, while suggesting that additional mechanisms may also exist.

Researchers say the findings reinforce the growing u...