Evolutionary medicine emerged in the late twentieth century, integrating principles
of natural selection and adaptation with the health sciences. Today, with a rapidly
widening gap between the biology of Homo sapiens and its environment, maladaptation
or maladaptive disorders can be detected in almost all diseases, including liver dysfunction.
However, in hepatology, as in most medical specialties, evolutionary considerations
are neglected because the majority of the medical community is not familiar with evolutionary
principles. The aim of this brief review is to highlight an evolutionary approach
that may facilitate understanding various liver diseases.
