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. 2020 Jan 16;10(1):481.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-57369-9.

Effect of weight change and lifestyle modifications on the development or remission of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: sex-specific analysis

Naoki Yoshioka  1   2 , Masatoshi Ishigami  3 , Yasuko Watanabe  4 , Hajime Sumi  2 , Masao Doisaki  2 , Takeo Yamaguchi  2 , Takanori Ito  1 , Yoji Ishizu  1 , Teiji Kuzuya  1 , Takashi Honda  1 , Tetsuya Ishikawa  1 , Jun-Ichi Haruta  2 , Mitsuhiro Fujishiro  1
Affiliations

Effect of weight change and lifestyle modifications on the development or remission of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: sex-specific analysis

Naoki Yoshioka et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

The effects of changes in various lifestyle habits on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have not been well elucidated. We aimed to clarify how weight change and lifestyle modifications were associated with the development or remission of NAFLD. In this longitudinal cohort study, we reviewed the periodic health checkup data of 1,421 subjects with no causes of liver disease besides NAFLD who had received at least two health checkups between 2009 and 2018. The prevalence of NAFLD at baseline was 34.1% (484/1,421). During follow-up period (4.6 ± 2.8 years), 104 subjects developed NAFLD and 127 subjects demonstrated NAFLD remission. The frequency of NAFLD development or that of NAFLD remission significantly increased as the larger weight gain or weight loss was, respectively (both, p < 0.001). Approximately 40% of the subjects who maintained ≥ 1%/year weight loss achieved NAFLD remission. By multivariate analysis, quitting smoking were independently associated with NAFLD development (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.86; 95% CI, 1.24-6.62). Subjects who quit smoking demonstrated large weight gain (≥1%/year) significantly more frequently than the other subjects (p < 0.001). In sex-specific analysis, starting to exercise was independently associated with NAFLD remission in men (AOR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.25-4.53).

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart of the study population. Eligible subjects comprised 1,421 individuals with no causes of liver disease other than nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) who had received at least two health checkups between 2009 and 2018. Among them, 104 subjects developed NAFLD and 127 subjects demonstrated NAFLD remission during the follow-up period. HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen; anti-HCV Ab, anti-hepatitis C virus antibody.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The association of weight change with NAFLD development and remission. (a) The larger weight gain was, the higher the frequency of NAFLD development was (p < 0.001). (b) The larger weight loss was, the higher the frequency of NAFLD remission was (p < 0.001).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Weight change of subjects without nonalcoholic fatty liver disease at baseline, categorized according to changes of smoking habit. Subjects who quit smoking demonstrated large weight gain (≥1%/year) significantly more frequently than the other subjects (p < 0.001).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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