title: Effects of a novel therapeutic diet on liver enzymes and coagulating factors in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A parallel randomized trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are several reports regarding the role of therapeutic diets for patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of a low-calorie, low-carbohydrate soy-containing diet on lipid profiles, liver enzymes, and coagulating factors in patients with NAFLD.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a randomized parallel clinical trial involving 45 patients with NAFLD. The participants consumed three kinds of diets for 8 wk. Patients were randomly assigned to consume a low-calorie diet; a low-calorie, low-carbohydrate diet; or a low-calorie, low-carbohydrate soy-containing diet. Measurements were done according to the standard method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Changes in weight were not significantly different in the three groups. The low-calorie, low-carbohydrate soy-containing diet could reduce alanine aminotransferase (-15.2 ± 12.1 versus -6.8 ± 4.6 in the low-calorie, low-carbohydrate diet, and -6.4 ± 4.4 IU/L in the low-calorie diet; P = 0.02) and serum fibrinogen levels (-49.1 ± 60.1 versus -12.9 ± 8.1 and -17.4 ± 8.4 g/L, respectively; P = 0.01). Reductions in aspartate aminotransferase were significantly higher in the low-calorie, low-carbohydrate soy-containing group. Changes in lipid profiles did not differ significantly between the groups. The soy-containing diet did reduce malondialdehyde more than the other diets (P = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A low-calorie, low-carbohydrate soy-containing diet could have beneficial effects on liver enzymes, malondialdehyde, and serum fibrinogen levels in patients with NAFLD.
authors.affiliation: Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Hashemi
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Kani
authors.affiliation: Baqiyatallah Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Moayed
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Alavian
authors.affiliation: Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esmaillzadeh
authors.affiliation: Integrative Functional Gastroenterology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Peyman
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Adibi
authors.affiliation: Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Electronic address: Azadbakht@hlth.mui.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Azadbakht
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D050528:Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy; D012639:Seeds; D013025:Glycine max
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005340:Fibrinogen; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
keywords: Coagulation; Lipid abnormalities; Low-calorie diet; Low-carbohydrate diet; Non-alcoholic fatty liver; Soy