Evidence-based clinical advice for nutrition and dietary weight loss strategies for the management of NAFLD and NASH
Open Access
- 1 October 2020
- journal article
- review article
- Published by The Korean Association for the Study of the Liver in Clinical and Molecular Hepatology
- Vol. 26 (4), 383-400
- https://doi.org/10.3350/cmh.2020.0067
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide and affects approximately one third of adults in the United States. The disease is becoming a global epidemic as a result of the rising rates of obesity and metabolic disease. Emerging data suggest weight loss of >= 10% overall body weight is beneficial in resolving steatosis and reversing fibrosis. Prospective trials comparing various diets are limited by lack of sufficient power as well as pre- and post-treatment histopathology, and therefore no specific diet is recommended at this time. In this narrative review we examine the pathophysiology behind specific macronutrient components that can either promote or reverse NAFLD to help inform more specific dietary recommendations. Overall, the data supports reducing saturated fat, refined carbohydrates, and red and processed meats in the diet, and increasing the consumption of plant-based foods. Diets that incorporate these recommendations include plant-based diets such as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, Mediterranean, vegetarian, and vegan diets.Keywords
Funding Information
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R01DK108353, R01DK106419, P30DK120515)
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (5P42ES010337)
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (5UL1TR001442)
- Department of Defense (CA170674P2)
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