Might some of the beneficial effects of the Mediterranean diet on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease be mediated by reduced iron stores?

Abstract

[1] Ryan MC, Itsiopoulos C, Thodis T, Ward G, Trost N, Hofferberth S, et al. The Mediterranean diet improves hepatic steatosis and insulin sensitivity in individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. J Hepatol 2013;59: 138–143. [2] Mascitelli L, Goldstein MR. Mediterranean diet, lower body iron stores and metabolic syndrome. Int J Clin Pract 2011;65:1110. [3] Buijsse B, Feskens EJ, Moschandreas J, Jansen EH, Jacobs Jr DR, Kafatos A, et al. Oxidative stress, and iron and antioxidant status in elderly men: differences between the Mediterranean south (Crete) and northern Europe (Zutphen). Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil 2007;14:495–500. [4] Trombini P, Piperno A. Ferritin, metabolic syndrome and NAFLD: elective attractions and dangerous liaisons. J Hepatol 2007;46:549–552. [5] Bozzini C, Girelli D, Olivieri O, Martinelli N, Bassi A, De Matteis G, et al. Prevalence of body iron excess in the metabolic syndrome. Diabetes Care 2005;28:2061–2063. [6] Zelber-Sagi S, Nitzan-Kaluski D, Halpern Z, Oren R. NAFLD and hyperinsulinemia are major determinants of serum ferritin levels. J Hepatol 2007;46:700–707. [7] George DK, Goldwurm S, MacDonald GA, Cowley LL, Walker NI, Ward PJ, et al. Increased hepatic iron concentration in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is associated with increased fibrosis. Gastroenterology 1998;114:311–318. [8] Kowdley KV, Belt P, Wilson LA, Yeh MM, Neuschwander-Tetri BA, Chalasani N, et al. Serum ferritin is an independent predictor of histologic severity and advanced fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Hepatology 2012;55:77–85. [9] Valenti L, Moscatiello S, Vanni E, Fracanzani AL, Bugianesi E, Fargion S, et al. Venesection for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease unresponsive to lifestyle counselling–apropensity score-adjusted observational study.QJM2011;104: 141–149. [10] Beaton MD, Chakrabarti S, Levstik M, Speechley M, Marotta P, Adams P. Phase II clinical trial of phlebotomy for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2013;37:720–729.