title: Associations Between Lifestyle Characteristics and the Presence of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Case-Control Study.
abstract: Dietary and physical activity (PA) habits have been suggested as important factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Published data are mainly focused on the effect of either diet or exercise, whereas data on other aspects like sleep remain sparse. The aim of this study was to explore potential associations between dietary intake, PA, and sleeping habits, and the presence of NAFLD.
  
  
  
  One hundred patients with ultrasound-proven NAFLD and 55 healthy controls matched for age, sex, and body mass index were included. Dietary habits were assessed through a semiquantitative validated food frequency questionnaire. PA level was assessed with a validated questionnaire. Total night sleep hours and duration of midday rest were also recorded. Optimal sleep duration was defined as sleep hours ≥7 and ≤9 hr/day.
  
  
  
  Patients compared to controls consumed less vegetables and nuts, more sweets, drank less coffee and alcohol (all P < 0.05), and exhibited a lower level of PA (P = 0.006). PA level [odds ratio (OR) per 100 metabolic equivalent of task-min/day = 0.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.61-0.89, P = 0.002] was associated with lower probability of having NAFLD, whereas sweets consumption (OR = 2.13, 95% CI 1.22-3.71, P = 0.008) was associated with increased probability, after adjusting for several confounders, including body weight status. Optimal sleep duration was marginally and inversely associated with NAFLD presence (OR = 0.38, 95% CI 0.14-1.01, P = 0.05).
  
  
  
  Higher PA level and optimal sleep duration are associated with lower likelihood, whereas sweets consumption is associated with higher likelihood of having NAFLD. These associations are independent of body weight status and energy intake.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences and Education, Harokopio University , Athens, Greece .
authors.forename: Christina N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Katsagoni
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences and Education, Harokopio University , Athens, Greece .
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Georgoulis
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Gastroenterology, Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Laiko General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece .
authors.forename: George V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Papatheodoridis
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences and Education, Harokopio University , Athens, Greece .
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fragopoulou
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Gastroenterology, Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Laiko General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece .
authors.forename: Panagiota
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ioannidou
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Gastroenterology, Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Laiko General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece .
authors.forename: Mariviki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Papageorgiou
authors.affiliation: 3 Second Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Hippokration General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece .
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alexopoulou
authors.affiliation: 3 Second Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Hippokration General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece .
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
authors.affiliation: 3 Second Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Hippokration General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece .
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deutsch
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences and Education, Harokopio University , Athens, Greece .
authors.forename: Meropi D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Kontogianni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: NAFLD; diet; lifestyle; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; optimal sleep hours; physical activity