**Abstract**

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasingly evolving and a critical public health concern, raising the likelihood of liver cirrhosis, type 2 diabetes and cardiac problems. Existing epidemics of obesity and sedentary life style have lead to NAFLD's elevated prevalence. In recent years there is profound change in the diet pattern, particularly the hypercaloric fat and carbohydrates for preventing or treating chronic liver disorders such as NASH and NAFLD. Functional and nutritional foods have contributed significantly to NAFLDimprovement and management. The justification for exploring functional foods as anti-NAFLD candidates for the chronic liver disease prevention is derived knowledge from *in vitro* and *in vivo* models. The findings from the *in vitro* and *in vivo* studies confirmed that these compounds are healthy, efficient, reversible inhibitors, when sufficiently consumed over a lifetime without severe toxicity, suitable for clinical trials and potentially becoming low-cost medication.

**Keywords:** non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, functional foods, phenolics, flavonoids, treatment, management

#### **1. Introduction**

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the primary liver disease posing severe health and economic burden worldwide [1]. NAFLD is characterized with excessive fat storage in the liver, constituting up to 10% of the total liver weight [2]. NAFLD is typically caused due to reasons other than excessive alcohol intake such as obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, high triglycerides, dyslipidemia, etc. [3]. Based on liver histology, NAFLD is further classified into the non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NAFL is characterized by retention of fat in the liver without hepatocyte injury, whereas in NASH, significant inflammation, hepatocyte injury and liver steatosis are observed [4]. The progression of NASH is quite complicated and if unattended, will lead to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and organ transplantation. At present, there is no FDA approved drug for the management of NAFLD. Functional foods are being prepared using scientific intelligence to provide the required amount of macro and micronutrients for once health. Compared to conventional foods, functional foods deliver potentially nutritious components that reduce the risk of several chronic diseases [5]. Nutraceuticals are any food substance or part of a diet that afford significant health benefits [6]. This chapter will emphasize the importance of functional foods and nutraceuticals for the management of NAFLD.
