People who make an effort to improve their diet are better protected against fat accumulation in their liver and are at lower risk of developing dangerous liver diseases, scientists from the U.S. have found.
Specifically, the researchers focused on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is closely linked to both obesity and an unhealthy diet.
Although experts have traditionally recommended that patients with NAFLD dietary changes In order to improve their liver health, scientific research has not yet demonstrated whether dietary improvements can also serve as a preventive measure against this specific disease.
Consequently, the researchers decided to examine the issue in depth by analyzing a large volume of data involving a total of 1,521 individuals.
The participants completed detailed dietary questionnaires and also underwent a test to measure the amount of fat accumulated in their livers.
The participants completed the questionnaires and underwent the examination twice over a period of 3–4 years.
During the follow-up period, those participants who adopted the Mediterranean Diet—that is:
- gradually increased their consumption of whole-grain products
- fish
- lean proteins
- vegetables and olive oil
reduced the risk of developing MALNI by at least 26%.
In addition, some participants also adopted another «liver-friendly» diet called the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (Alternative Healthy Eating Index – AHEI), which is based on the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture; it was estimated that they reduced the risk of NAFLD by at least 21%. A key principle of the AHEI is its emphasis on the quality of the foods included in the diet rather than on the proportion of macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats) it contains.
For example, whole-grain products should be preferred over processed (white) carbohydrates, while monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats should be preferred over saturated and trans fats.
One particularly interesting finding by the researchers was that improving diet appeared to prevent fat accumulation in the liver even in individuals with a genetic predisposition to NAFLD.
«»Our findings show that improving dietary quality is associated with less fat accumulation in the liver and reduces the risk of developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, particularly in individuals at increased risk for NAFLD due to their genetic background,” said the lead author of the study, Dr. Daniel Levy, of the National Institutes of Health in Maryland, U.S., according to Reuters.
The participants who showed the greatest improvement were those who primarily increased their intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain products, which are high in water and dietary fiber.
«»We hypothesize that these foods limit fat accumulation in the liver because they increase energy availability while also influencing the feeling of fullness, thereby contributing to better"," says Dr. Levi.
«It is also possible that dietary fiber intake affects gut bacteria in a way that subsequently has a positive effect on the process of fat accumulation in the liver.».
It should be noted that both healthy diets studied include only minimal amounts of red meat, which promotes fat accumulation in the liver, while encouraging the consumption of foods that help reduce body fat, such as nuts, Dr. Levi points out.
The new findings are published in detail in the journal *Gastroenterology*.
