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Dietary patterns in the progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease to advanced liver
Tengfei Li1, Jianhui Zhao2, Haoze Cao3
1Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Department of Big Data in Health Science School of Public Health and The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Research Center of Diagnosis and Treatment Technology for Hepatocellular Carcinoma of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; National Innovation Center for Fundamental Research on Cancer Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; ZJU-Pujian Research & Development Center of Medical Artificial Intelligence for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Background:
Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a significant health problem. Dietary intervention plays an important role in patients with MAFLD.
Objectives:
We aimed to provide a reference for dietary patterns in patients with MAFLD.
Methods:
The presence of MAFLD was determined in the United Kingdom Biobank cohort. Nine dietary pattern scores were derived from the dietary records. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The contrast test was employed to calculate the heterogeneity across MAFLD statuses.
Results:
We identified 175,300 patients with MAFLD at baseline. Compared with non-MAFLD, MAFLD was significantly associated with chronic liver disease (CLD) (HR: 3.48; 95% CI: 3.15, 3.84), severe liver disease (SLD) (HR: 2.87; 95% CI: 2.63, 3.14), liver cancer (HR: 1.93; 95% CI: 1.67, 2.23), and liver-related death (LRD) (HR: 1.93; 95% CI: 1.67, 2.23). In the overall cohort, the alternate Mediterranean diet (aMED) (HRCLD: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.37, 0.76; HRSLD: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.37, 0.72), planetary health diet (PHD) (HRCLD: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.47, 0.81; HRSLD: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.51, 0.83), plant-based low-carbohydrate diet (pLCD) (HRCLD: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.49, 0.86; HRSLD: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.51, 0.85), and healthful plant-based diet index (hPDI) (HRCLD: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.47, 0.84; HRSLD: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.47, 0.78) were associated with a lower risk of CLD and SLD. Additionally, unhealthful plant-based diet index (uPDI) was associated with increased risk of CLD (HR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.09,1.85), SLD (HR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.19, 1.90), and LRD (HR: 1.88; 95% CI: 1.28-2.78). The aforementioned associations remained consistently strong within the MAFLD subgroup while exhibiting less pronounced in the non-MAFLD group. However, no significant heterogeneity was observed across different MAFLD statuses.
Conclusions:
These findings highlight the detrimental effects of MAFLD on the development of subsequent liver diseases and the importance of dietary patterns in managing MAFLD.
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