Association Between Meat Intake and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Incidence in a Korean...

This study investigated the limited epidemiological data for Koreans regarding the impact of meat intake on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), a growing diet-influenced health concern. We investigated sex-specific associations of red meat, poultry, and processed meat consumption with MASLD risk using data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study.

The study followed 46 296 participants from the Health Examinees cohort of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study, utilizing a validated 106-item food-frequency questionnaire to estimate meat intake. Cox proportional hazard models, adjusted for confounders, were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for MASLD risk. The high total meat intake significantly increased MASLD risk by 40% in men (HR 1.40; 95% CI 1.09-1.80) and 52% in women (HR 1.52; 95% CI 1.18-1.96). Red meat consumption elevated risk by 34% in men (HR 1.34; 95% CI 1.04-1.73) and 43% in women (HR 1.43; 95% CI 1.12-1.83). Processed meat intake also increased risk by 32% in men (HR 1.32; 95% CI 1.12-1.55) and 50% in women (HR 1.50; 95% CI 1.23-1.82).

The findings indicate that red and processed meat consumption substantially elevates MASLD risk in Koreans.