Diet and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
OBJECTIVE
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a common and serious form of chronic liver disease. It is characterized by lipid accumulation in the liver and is associated with all aspects - and may even be an initiating factor - of the metabolic syndrome. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent findings from human studies on dietary effects on hepatic lipid accumulation.


RESULTS
Epidemiological studies did not give consistent results. From intervention studies there is evidence to support a role for weight loss. Some studies have also suggested that decreasing total fat intake and increasing the intake of fish oils may be beneficial in the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Only a few studies have focused on dietary effects on hepatic lipid accumulation. So far, there is only evidence to support a role for weight loss. Decreasing total fat intake and increasing the intake of fish oils may also be beneficial, but these conclusions are based on a limited number of studies, which sometimes lacked a proper control group. Also, other nutrients have not been studied in detail. Therefore, there is an urgent need for evidence-based dietary guidelines to prevent or even to treat nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Mensink
Ronald P
RP
Department of Human Biology, Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. R.Mensink@HB.UNIMAAS.NL
Plat
Jogchum
J
Schrauwen
Patrick
P
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015431:Weight Loss
D004041:Dietary Fats; D005395:Fish Oils; D014810:Vitamin E