Association of five diet scores with severe NAFLD incidence: A prospective study from UK Biobank

Abstract

AimThis study aimed to contrast the associations of five common diet scores with severe non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) incidence.Materials and MethodsIn total, 162 999 UK Biobank participants were included in this prospective population‐based study. Five international diet scores were included: the 14‐Item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS‐14), the Recommended Food Score (RFS), the Healthy Diet Indicator (HDI), the Mediterranean Diet Score and the Mediterranean‐DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay score. As each score has different measurements and scales, all scores were standardized and categorized into quartiles. Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for confounder factors investigated associations between the standardized quartiles and severe NAFLD incidence.ResultsOver a median follow‐up of 10.2 years, 1370 participants were diagnosed with severe NAFLD. When the analyses were fully adjusted, participants in quartile 4 using the MEDAS‐14 and RFS scores, as well as those in quartiles 2 and 3 using the HDI score, had a significantly lower risk of severe incident NAFLD compared with those in quartile 1. The lowest risk was observed in quartile 4 for the MEDAS‐14 score [hazard ratio (HR): 0.76 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.62‐0.94)] and the RFS score [HR: 0.82 (95% CI: 0.69‐0.96)] and as well as in quartile 2 in the HDI score [HR: 0.80 (95% CI: 0.70‐0.91)].ConclusionMEDAS‐14, RFS and HDI scores were the strongest diet score predictors of severe NAFLD. A healthy diet might protect against NAFLD development irrespective of the specific approach used to assess diet. However, following these score recommendations could represent optimal dietary approaches to mitigate NAFLD risk.

Malnutrition-Related Liver Steatosis, CONUT Score and Poor Clinical Outcomes in an Internal Medicine Department

“…Hanachi M et al demonstrated that a BMI < 12 was the sole independent risk factor for hepatic cytolysis in a study conducted in patients with anorexia nervosa [ 21 ]; furthermore, other studies have shown that increased caloric consumption and weight gain can lead to a rapid improvement in liver function tests [ 22 ]. Liver abnormalities have been reported as complications of other clinical conditions associated with impairment of nutrient absorption, such as bariatric surgery and intestinal failure [ 23 , 24 ]. These results support evidence from previous observations: chronic liver disease, ranging from steatosis (fatty liver) to steatohepatitis, acute alcohol-associated hepatitis, and liver cirrhosis, is associated with malnutrition, especially among hospitalized patients due to an inadequate intake of both macro- and micro-nutrients, leading to higher mortality and complications [ 8 , 9 ].…”