2011). This effect of diet is not seen in wild‐type controls which develop only simple steatosis. In this model, Hfe null mice demonstrated upregulation of gene expression of de novo lipogenesis pathways and downregulation of fatty acid oxidation pathways. This imbalance of fatty acid synthesis and oxidation may explain the liver injury seen in these Hfe null mice. However, the mechanisms by which Hfe deletion might dysregulate hepatic lipid metabolism remain to be defined. This evidence concerns the gene HFE and steatosis.