Does Meal or Water Intake Affect Ultrasound Attenuation Coefficient Estimate?

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Hepatology
• Biomarkers

Background:

• Ultrasound (US) attenuation coefficient (AC) imaging is a non-invasive method to assess liver fat content.
• Previous studies have not clarified whether food or water intake influences AC measurements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the impact of meal and water intake on the accuracy of ultrasound attenuation coefficient (AC) measurements for liver fat quantification.

Main Methods:

• AC measurements were taken at two international centers using the ATI algorithm on US systems.
• Participants were divided into two groups: one group consumed 500 mL of water, and the other consumed a 600 kcal meal.
• AC values were recorded at multiple time points post-intake, and statistical analysis accounted for repeated measures and potential confounding factors.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in AC values were observed at any time point after water or meal consumption.
• Baseline AC values were comparable between the water and meal groups.
• These results remained consistent even after adjusting for sex, age, and skin-to-liver capsule distance.

Conclusions:

• Ultrasound attenuation coefficient (AC) measurements for liver steatosis are not affected by water or meal intake.
• A fasting state is not required for accurate AC measurements, simplifying liver fat assessment.
• This study validates AC imaging as a reliable biomarker for liver steatosis without pre-procedural dietary restrictions.