Influence of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Intake on Sarcopenic Obesity, Visceral Obesity, and Sarcopenia in Lebanese Patients with MASLD: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

Chronic liver diseases are a major global health concern.

Aims: this study investigated the links between medical, clinical, anthropometric, and dietary factors with dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in the Lebanese population using a case-control approach to uncover factors influencing visceral obesity, sarcopenia, and sarcopenic obesity.

Methods and materials: a total of 120 participants (20-70 years old) were divided into case and control groups based on liver disease diagnosis. Patient information was gathered through a questionnaire encompassing demographics, medical history, and beverage consumption. Anthropometric and body composition data were collected in a clinical setting.

Results: our findings indicated a clear association between the presence of MASLD and obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. The positive association with higher body mass index and all three conditions remained consistent even when data was stratified by case and control groups. A greater proportion of MASLD patients exhibited sarcopenic obesity. Furthermore, MASLD cases showed higher consumption of sugary beverages and a reduced intake of milk and water in their diets.

Conclusions: this study shed light on the health attributes and diets of the Lebanese population with liver diseases and suggested more research in this area and in a more ethnically diverse population.

Keywords: Lebanon; dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease; nutrition; sarcopenia; sarcopenic obesity; sugar-sweetened beverages; visceral obesity.

Figure 1

Effect of consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages on MASLD. Adapted from Sakurai et al., 2021 [56]. Red arrows indicate increase in the actions and blue arrows indicate its decrease.