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Review
. 2017 Jul 26;9(8):800.
doi: 10.3390/nu9080800.

Dietary Composition Independent of Weight Loss in the Management of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Tannaz Eslamparast  1 , Puneeta Tandon  2   3 , Maitreyi Raman  4
Affiliations
Review

Dietary Composition Independent of Weight Loss in the Management of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Tannaz Eslamparast et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Poor dietary composition is an important factor in the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The majority of NAFLD patients follow diets with overconsumption of simple carbohydrates, total and saturated fat, with reduced intake of dietary fiber and omega-3 rich foods. Although lifestyle modifications including weight loss and exercise remain the keystone of NAFLD management, modifying dietary composition with or without a calorie-restricted diet may also be a feasible and sustainable strategy for NAFLD treatment. In the present review article, we highlight the potential therapeutic role of a "high quality healthy diet" to improve hepatic steatosis and metabolic dysfunction in patients with NAFLD, independent of caloric restriction and weight loss. We provide a literature review evaluating the evidence behind dietary components including fiber-, meat- and omega-3-rich diets and, pending further evidence, we concur with the EASL-EASD-EASO Clinical Guidelines recommendation of the Mediterranean diet as the diet of choice in these patients.

Keywords: Mediterranean diet; dietary composition; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

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