A Meat-Heavy Diet Could Raise NAFLD Risk

Eating more animal protein is independently associated with an up to 40% increased in the risk of developing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in overweight older adults, according to the results of a recent study.

Although a healthy lifestyle is the best way to protect against NAFLD, specific dietary recommendations are lacking.

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For this reason, researchers conducted an analysis of data from 3882 participants in the Rotterdam Study on average intake of macronutrients and NAFLD presence as measured by ultrasonography, in the absence of excessive alcohol, steatogenic drugs, and viral hepatitis. Macronutrients were ranked based on nutrient density (Q1-Q4).  

Overall, 1337 participants had NAFLD, of whom 132 were lean and 1205 were overweight. After adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle covariates, total protein intake was associated with overweight NAFLD (OR_Q4vsQ1 1.40; 95% CI 1.11 to 1.77). Animal protein (OR_Q4vsQ1 1.54; 95% CI 1.20 to 1.98) drove this association. Following adjustments for metabolic covariates, only animal protein was still associated with overweight NAFLD (OR_Q4vsQ1 1.36; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.77). Monosaccharides and disaccharides were associated with lower NALFD prevalence (OR_Q4vsQ1 0.66; 95% CI 0.52 to 0.83), but the effect diminished following adjustment for metabolic covariates and BMI.

“This large population-based study shows that high animal protein intake is associated with NAFLD in overweight, predominantly aged Caucasians, independently of well-known risk factors. Contrary to previous literature, our results do not support a harmful association of monosaccharides and disaccharides with NAFLD.”

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Alferink LJM, Jong JCK, Erler NS, et al. Association of dietary macronutrient composition and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in an ageing population: the Rotterdam Study [published online July 31, 2018]. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2017-315940.