Lipids & metabolic liver disease
Associations of Macronutrients Intake With Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)-determined Hepatic Fat Content, Hepatic Fibroinflammation, and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
Authors' conclusion
Overall, our results demonstrate that specific macronutrients are associated with different aspects of NAFLD, and specific dietary compositions should be recommended for distinct NAFLD-risk populations.
Study context
- Population
- UK Biobank participants who completed both the dietary questionnaire and MRI examination
- Participants
- 12,620 participants
- Exposure
- Dietary macronutrient composition and MRI-determined hepatic steatosis, fibroinflammation and NAFLD
- Outcome
- MRI-determined hepatic fat content, fibroinflammation and NAFLD
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Associations of macronutrient intake with hepatic steatosis, fibroinflammation and NAFLD
- Saturated fatty acid (SFA) intake was associated with higher hepatic steatosis, fibroinflammation and NAFLD prevalence
- Higher fiber or protein intake was reversely correlated with hepatic steatosis and fibroinflammation
- Starch or sugar intake was significantly associated with hepatic fibroinflammation
- Monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) intake was negatively correlated with hepatic fibroinflammation
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Isocaloric substitution analysis
- Replacing SFA with sugar, fiber or protein was significantly associated with a reduction in hepatic steatosis
- Replacing starch, sugar or SFA with protein or MUFA was significantly correlated with a decrease in hepatic fibroinflammation
Original publication
Associations of Macronutrients Intake With MRI-determined Hepatic Fat Content, Hepatic Fibroinflammation, and NAFLD. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Published 8 June 2023. doi:10.
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