Polyphenol consumption and Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease risk in adults

Abstract

In this cross-sectional investigation, the primary objective was to explore the correlation between the consumption of polyphenols and the likelihood of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the adult population participating in the Hoveyzeh cohort. Data from the Hoveyzeh cohort study, part of the Persian Cohort Study, involving 10,009 adults aged 35–70, were analyzed. Exclusions were made for missing data, extreme energy intake, and liver cancer patients. Dietary habits were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, and polyphenol intake was calculated using the Phenol Explorer database. Logistic regression analyses, adjusted for confounders, were performed to assess the relationship between polyphenol subclasses (total polyphenols, total flavonoids, phenolic acid, and lignin) and NAFLD. Among 9894 participants, those in the highest quintile of total polyphenol (OR 0.65, CI 0.5–0.84; P = 0.007), phenolic acid (OR 0.67, CI 0.52–0.86; P < 0.001), and lignin intake (OR 0.69, CI 0.52–0.87; P = 0.001) demonstrated lower odds of NAFLD compared to the lowest quintile, even after adjusting for confounding factors. However, no significant association was found between total flavonoid intake and NAFLD (OR 1.26, CI 0.96–1.67; P = 0.47). Subgroup analysis indicated a significant inverse association between total polyphenols and NAFLD in women (OR 0.64, CI 0.42–0.93; P = 0.001). Higher intake of total polyphenols, phenolic acid, and lignin was associated with reduced odds of NAFLD among adults in the Hoveyzeh cohort. This suggests that dietary patterns rich in these polyphenols may play a role in mitigating the risk of NAFLD. Further interventional and longitudinal studies are needed to validate these findings and explore potential preventive strategies involving polyphenol-rich diets.