Dietary patterns and risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Amir Hadi,Maryam Miraghajani,Cain C T Clark,Samaneh Sadat,Reza Ghiasvand,Makan Pourmasomi,Ammar Salehi-Sahlabadi,Sara Beigrezaei,Awat Feizi

doi:10.1186/s12876-021-01612-z

Abstract

BackgroundNutrition is a modifiable risk factor that plays an important role in the prevention or delaying of the onset of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Previous studies have focused on NAFLD and individual nutrients, which does not take into account combinations of food that are consumed. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between major dietary patterns and NAFLD.MethodsThis case–control study was conducted on 225 newly diagnosed NAFLD patients and 450 healthy controls. Usual dietary intake over the preceding year was assessed using a validated 168-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Major dietary patterns were determined by exploratory factor analysis.ResultsThree dietary patterns, including "western dietary pattern", "healthy dietary pattern", and "traditional dietary pattern" were identified. Subjects in the highest tertile of healthy dietary pattern scores had a lower odds ratio for NAFLD than those in the lowest tertile. Compared with those in the lowest tertile, people in the highest tertile of “western dietary pattern” scores had greater odds for NAFLD. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, “western dietary pattern” had a positive significant effect on NAFLD occurrence. In contrast, “healthy dietary pattern” was associated with a decreased risk of NAFLD. Furthermore, Higher consumption of the “traditional dietary pattern” was significantly associated with NAFLD, albeit in the crude model only.ConclusionThis study indicated that healthy and western dietary patterns may be associated with the risk of NAFLD. The results can be used for developing interventions in order to promote healthy eating for the prevention of NAFLD.

Highlights

Nutrition is a modifiable risk factor that plays an important role in the prevention or delaying of the onset of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
NAFLD is strongly associated with central adiposity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), insulin resistance, hypertension and metabolic syndrome [9]; whilst some empirical data demonstrates that NAFLD is associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality in cardiovascular disease [10, 11]
The current study investigated the association of three dietary patterns of "western dietary pattern", “healthy dietary pattern”, and "traditional dietary pattern” in Iranian adults with NAFLD

Summary

Introduction

Nutrition is a modifiable risk factor that plays an important role in the prevention or delaying of the onset of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Obesity is associated with the presence of NAFLD; increased central adiposity is asserted a more important indicator of NAFLD than total body fat [12]. Accumulating evidence have indicated that high-calorie diets, especially those rich in saturated and trans fatty acids, and cholesterol, as well as fructose-rich diets, increase central adiposity, visceral fat and the incidence of NAFLD [13]. A high intake of take-out foods, red meat, full-fat dairy products and soft drinks, was associated with higher risk of NAFLD [14]. The impact of gut microbiota on NAFLD has been suggested by previous studies, it can be a viable target for NAFLD treatment [18]

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