Association of Pro-Inflammatory Diets With Increased Risk of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis:...

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Nutrition Science
• Chronic Disease Epidemiology

Background:

• Chronic inflammation is central to steatohepatitis development in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
• Dietary factors are implicated in hepatic steatosis, but their role in steatohepatitis risk is less understood.
• Existing research lacks longitudinal data on diet-induced inflammation and steatohepatitis risk in MASLD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between diet-induced inflammation and steatohepatitis risk in individuals with MASLD.
• To assess the role of the dietary inflammatory index (DII) in predicting steatohepatitis risk.
• To explore the mediating effect of weight changes in the diet-inflammation-steatohepatitis relationship.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal analysis of 1130 MASLD patients from the Ravansar Non-Communicable Disease cohort (2015-2023).
• MASLD assessment using the hepatic steatosis index (HSI); dietary intake via food frequency questionnaire (FFQ).
• Inflammation assessed using the dietary inflammatory index (DII); steatohepatitis risk evaluated by the acNASH index.

Main Results:

• Higher DII scores correlated significantly with increased weight, ALT levels, and acNASH scores.
• Each one-point DII increase was linked to a 0.45% weight gain, 2.27% ALT increase, and 1.96% acNASH score increase.
• Weight gain mediated 10.1% of the DII-acNASH relationship, highlighting its role.

Conclusions:

• Diet-induced inflammation is directly associated with elevated steatohepatitis risk in MASLD patients.
• Anti-inflammatory dietary patterns and weight management are crucial for reducing steatohepatitis risk.
• Findings support integrating dietary interventions and weight control into clinical practice for MASLD management.