The prognostic role of diet quality in patients with MAFLD and physical activity: data from NHANES

Dietary control and increased physical activity (PA) are recommended for patients with metabolic (dysfunction-) associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). However, not all patients can sustain both exercise and a healthy diet. This study explored the interaction between dietary quality, PA levels, and mortality in MAFLD patients.

The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and linked mortality data were used in this study. Diet quality was assessed with the Healthy Eating Index (HEI). PA level was calculated by multiply self-reported exercise frequency and its Metabolic Equivalent A high-quality diet was associated. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to explore risk factors for mortality in MAFLD patients.

In total, 3709 participants with MAFLD were included in the final analysis. The median follow-up time was 26.2 (interquartile range 19.3-28.1) years and 1549 (41.8%) deaths were recorded over follow-up. Cox multivariate regression was used to adjust for potential confounders of mortality. The results showed both HEI score and PA level were inversely correlated with all-cause mortality (P < 0.05). In the subgroup analysis stratified by PA level, higher diet quality decreased all-cause mortality, cardiovascular-related mortality and cancer-related mortality in PA inactive of MAFLD patients (P < 0.05), but these correlations were not present in active PA groups.

Healthy diet and physical activity may have different impact as lifestyle interventions for MAFLD. A high-quality diet is associated less mortality in inactive individuals with MAFLD but not in those with active PA levels. Sedentary individuals require healthier diet.