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The Mediterranean (MED) diet was associated with a reduced risk of chronic disease, but the epidemiological studies reported inconsistent findings related to the MED diet and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) risk. This age and the gender-matched case-control study were conducted among 247 adult patients. The MED diet score was obtained based on the Trichopoulou model. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the association between the MED diet and NAFLD risk. NAFLD prevalence in people with low, moderate and high adherence to the MED diet was 33, 13⋅1 and 4⋅6 %, respectively. The increasing intake of the MED diet was significantly related to the increment intake of nuts and fruits, vegetables, monounsaturated fatty acid/polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio, legumes, cereals and fish. However, total energy consumption, low-fat dairy and meats intake were reduced (P for all < 0⋅05). Following control for age, the person in the highest of the MED diet tertile compared with the lowest, the odds of NAFLD decreased (OR: 0⋅40, 95 % CI: 0⋅17–0⋅95). This relation became a little stronger after further adjusting for sex, diabetes, physical activity and supplement intake (OR: 0⋅36, 95 % CI: 0⋅15–0⋅89). However, this association disappeared after adjusting for body mass index, waist and hip circumference (OR: 0⋅70, 95 % CI: 0⋅25–1⋅97). High adherence to the MED diet was associated with a 64 % reduction in NAFLD odds before some anthropometric variable adjustments. However, further prospective studies are required, particularly in BMI-stratified models.

Background The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rising at an exponential rate throughout the world. Given the confirmed association between nutritional status and NAFLD, this study aimed to investigate the relationship of dietary patterns with NAFLD in overweight and obese adults. Methods In this age- and gender-matched case–control study, 115 newly diagnosed cases and 102 control individuals participated. A validated 178-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was administered to assess the participants' dietary data. Dietary patterns were extracted from 24 predefined food groups by factor analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was run to evaluate the relationship between dietary patterns and NAFLD. Results Factor analysis resulted in: “western”, “traditional”, and “snack and sweets” dietary patterns. The NAFLD odds were greater in participants at the highest quintile of the “western” dietary pattern than the lowest quintile (OR: 3.52; 95% CI: 1.64, 8.61). A significant increasing trend was observed in NAFLD odds across increasing quintiles of the “western” dietary pattern (P-trend = 0.01). After adjusting for the potential confounders, this relationship remained significant (OR: 3.30; 95% CI: 1.06–10.27). After full adjustments, NAFLD had no association with “traditional” or “snack and sweets” dietary patterns. Conclusion The “western” dietary pattern containing fast food, refined grains, liquid oil, pickles, high-fat dairy, sweet desserts, red meat, tea, and coffee was associated with increased odds of NAFLD. However, further prospective studies are required to establish these results.

Current evidence on the beneficial effects of garlic on liver enzymes is contradictory. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review and meta‐analysis is to evaluate the effect of garlic supplementation on human liver enzymes, such as Alanine Transaminase (ALT/SGPT) and Aspartate Transaminase (AST/SGOT). To collect the required data, PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Google scholar databases were systematically searched from inception to June 2019. A meta‐analysis was conducted using the random‐effects model to evaluate the effects of garlic supplementation on ALT and AST levels. The Cochran's Q‐test and inconsistency index were also used to evaluate heterogeneity among the studies. Among a total of 15,514 identified articles, six studies (containing 301 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Results of the meta‐analysis showed that garlic supplementation significantly decreased AST level (Hedges' g = −0.36, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.72, −0.004, p = .047); whereas, it had no significant effect on ALT level (Hedges' g = −0.22, 95% CI: −0.64, 0.20, p = .310). Results showed that garlic supplementation reduced AST levels significantly; however, had no significant effect on ALT levels. Further studies are still needed to confirm the results.