Saturated fatty acids, particularly palmitic acid, are highly lipotoxic and may lead to apoptotic cell death. In contrast, n-3 PUFA have a protective effect on steatosis. Free cholesterol targets the mitochondria, and contributes to lipotoxicity and apoptosis. Fructose favors steatosis and contributes to injury, inflammation and fibrogenesis increasing the availability of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), increasing the levels of advanced glycation end-products (AGE), increasing iron and depleting copper.