Review for 10.1186/s12876-018-0906-8 (2018)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: PREVALENCE OF AND RISK FACTORS FOR FATTY LIVER IN THE GENERAL 
POPULATION OF NORTHERN ITALY: THE BAGNACAVALLO STUDY  
 
Version: 1 Date: 18 May 2018  
 
Reviewer: Ludovico Abenavoli  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
- Introduction section: fatty liver is now considered a part of Metabolic syndrome. NAFLD is 
related with many metabolic impairments, as a insulin resistance, diabetes, obesity, dysbiosi s 
(e.g. Abenavoli et al. World J Gastroenetrol 2016). Please report this sentence in the text.  
 
- Methods section: smoke is a well know risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, and recently 
was proposed as a risk factor for NAFLD development (e.g. Park et a l. Toxicol Lett. 2016). 
Why the Author do not consider it in this population study?  
 
- Discussion section:  The alimentary regimen is, and in particular fat diet, in linked to the 
development and progression of NAFLD. Bagnocavallo is a small city located in Emilia 
Romagna a region of Italy, famous for the dietetic high fat content profile.  To optimize the 
clinical context of the study, i suggest to briefly summarize the alimentary habitudes and/or 
alimenatry profile of this region. To improve the messages of this section, i suggest also to 
highlight the founded data, and to report a sentenc e in support of policies of health diet and 
screening for NAFLD  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please s pecify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data sh own?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
  
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspect s require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declarati on of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If you r reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
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