The association between score of plant-based diet and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in adults.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Plant-based diet (PDI) as resource of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals, that was considered to protect against onset and development of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). AIM: To investigate the association between plant-based diet and NAFLD in adults. METHODS: The present case control study was conducted on 240 individuals (120 with NAFLD and 120 control) aged 20-69 years. Provided recommendations by the American College of Gastroenterology and the American Gastroenterological Association were used for NAFLD diagnosis. Dietary intake was assessed using 178-food item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Also, plant-based diet score was evaluated based on 18 food groups classified into animal foods, healthy and unhealthy plant foods. A multiple logistic regression model was used to examine the relationship between fatty liver disease and tertiles of PDI. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that we did not observe any association between tertiles of PDI and NAFLD in crude model (OR 1.29, 95%CI0.66-2.52, P0.44) and after adjustment for confounders including age, energy intake, physical activity, body mass index (OR0.76, 95%CI 0.31-1.86, P0.52). Also, there were not any association of tertiles of healthy PDI (hPDI) (OR1.14, 95%CI 0.50-2.60, P0.74) and unhealthy PDI (uhPDI) (OR0.89, 95%CI0.36-2.18, P 0.79) with NAFLD after full adjustment for potential confounders. CONCLUSION: There was not any association of PDI, hPDI, and uPDI with NAFLD in adults. More research needs to examine whether this specific diet may impact and improve NAFLD.