Abstract
BackgroundsThe fatty liver index (FLI) is a good non-invasive approach for fatty liver disease diagnosis. The objective of this study was to examine the associations of nutrient patterns with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in a Japanese population.MethodsA total of 1,588 subjects (789 men and 799 women) aged 35–69 years were recruited in the baseline survey of the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort (J-MICC) Study in Tokushima Prefecture. Factor analysis was applied to energy-adjusted intake of 21 nutrients, and nutrient patterns were extracted. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relationships between nutrient patterns and the high FLI category (≥60).ResultsFour nutrient patterns were extracted: Factor 1, vitamins, dietary fiber, iron and potassium pattern; Factor 2, fats and fat-soluble vitamins pattern; Factor 3, saturated fat, calcium, vitamin B2 and low carbohydrate pattern; and Factor 4, sodium, protein and vitamin D pattern. After adjustment for sex, age, and other potential confounding variables, higher Factor 1 scores were significantly associated with lower odds ratios of NAFLD (P for trend <0.05). Analysis of each component of FLI showed that there were significant inverse associations between Factor 1 scores and high body mass index and large waist circumference.ConclusionThe present findings suggest that a nutrient pattern rich in vitamins, fiber, iron, and potassium was associated with lower prevalence of NAFLD in a Japanese population. Obesity and abdominal obesity may be intermediate variables for the association between this nutrient pattern and NAFLD.
Highlights
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) often coexists with obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus, and patients with NAFLD are at increased risk for future development of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.[4,5,6,7]
We excluded participants who drank alcohol above the diagnostic criteria for NAFLD (n = 508); who had a previous history of ischemic heart disease, stroke, or cancer (n = 159); who had diabetes (n = 92); or who had a history of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, liver cirrhosis, or whose disease history was unknown (n = 40)
We evaluated the associations of the quartiles of nutrient pattern scores with NAFLD using logistic regression analysis
Summary
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common chronic liver diseases, characterized by an excessive hepatic fat content above 5%, without evidence of heavy alcohol intake (>30 g=day for men, >20 g=day for women) or use of drugs.[1,2,3] NAFLD often coexists with obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus, and patients with NAFLD are at increased risk for future development of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.[4,5,6,7] early detection of NAFLD and improvements in lifestyle are crucial to prevent more severe health consequences. Dietary pattern analysis has been frequently used to investigate the association of consumed foods or food groups as a whole and the associated risk of chronic diseases. The relationship between dietary patterns and NAFLD has been reported in some previous studies.
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