title: Long term nutritional intake and the risk for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): a population based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Weight loss is considered therapeutic for patients with NAFLD. However, there is no epidemiological evidence that dietary habits are associated with NAFLD. Dietary patterns associated with primary NAFLD were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of a sub-sample (n=375) of the Israeli National Health and Nutrition Survey. Exclusion criteria were any known etiology for secondary NAFLD. Participants underwent an abdominal ultrasound, biochemical tests, dietary and anthropometric evaluations. A semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire was administered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After exclusion, 349 volunteers (52.7% male, mean age 50.7+/-10.4, 30.9% primary NAFLD) were included. The NAFLD group consumed almost twice the amount of soft drinks (P=0.03) and 27% more meat (P<0.001). In contrast, the NAFLD group consumed somewhat less fish rich in omega-3 (P=0.056). Adjusting for age, gender, BMI and total calories, intake of soft drinks and meat was significantly associated with an increased risk for NAFLD (OR=1.45, 1.13-1.85 95% CI and OR=1.37, 1.04-1.83 95% CI, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NAFLD patients have a higher intake of soft drinks and meat and a tendency towards a lower intake of fish rich in omega-3. Moreover, a higher intake of soft drinks and meat is associated with an increased risk of NAFLD, independently of age, gender, BMI and total calories.
authors.affiliation: The Liver Unit, Department of Gastroenterology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv 64239, Israel.
authors.forename: Shira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zelber-Sagi
authors.forename: Dorit
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nitzan-Kaluski
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goldsmith
authors.forename: Muriel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blendis
authors.forename: Zamir
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Halpern
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oren
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001628:Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology*; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005396:Fish Products / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3