Higher adherence to plant-based diets are associated with lower likelihood of fatty liver
Journal article, 2019

Some plant-based diets have been suggested to have a beneficial impact on liver disease risk. We examined the association of the overall plant-based diet (PDI), hypothesized healthful PDI (hPDI) and unhealthful PDI (uPDI) with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in US adults from the 2005–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES2005-2010). Analysis of covariance, linear and logistic regression models accounted for the survey design and sample weights. Overall, 18,345 participants were included, with a mean age of 47.9 years and comprising 51.7% women. Liver function tests including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and fatty liver index (FLI) decreased across increasing thirds of PDI and hPDI (all p < 0.001), while adjusted mean of ALT, AST and FLI increased across increasing thirds of uPDI. Adjusted linear regressions showed that PDI and hPDI had negative and significant associations with ALT (PDI = β:-0.095, hPDI = β:-0.128), AST (PDI = β:-0.101, hPDI = β:-0.138) and FLI (PDI = β:-0.153, hPDI = β:-0.265), while uPDI had a positive and significant association with ALT (β: 0.103), AST (β: 0.112) and FLI (β: 0.241). After adjustment, participants in the upper third of PDI had 21% lower odd of NAFLD compared with those in the lowest third [odds ratio (OR): 0.79, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 0.74–0.82]. A similar trend was observed with hPDI; and the opposite across increasing thirds of uPDI. Our findings confirm that healthy plant-based diets are associated with lower NAFLD risk and more favorable liver function tests profile.

Plant-based diet

Fatty liver index

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Author

Mohsen Mazidi

Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Food and Nutrition Science

Andre Pascal Kengne

South African Medical Research Council

University of Cape Town

Clinical Nutrition

0261-5614 (ISSN) 15321983 (eISSN)

Vol. 38 4 1672-1677

Subject Categories

Gerontology, specialising in Medical and Health Sciences

Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology

Nutrition and Dietetics

DOI

10.1016/j.clnu.2018.08.010

More information

Latest update

7/12/2019