The decrease in hepatic steatosis in alcohol-fed rats after 48 h fasting compared to fed-counterparts could be due to the combined effects of (i) abstinence-related recovery of the liver and adipose tissue, (ii) an increase in liver fatty acid oxidation as evident by increased PPARα, and (iii) the absence of further increases in the supply of adipose-derived NEFA to the liver because of an inadequate starvation-induced lipolytic stimulus as observed in pair-fed control rats. The gene discussed is PPARA; the disease is fatty liver disease.