Adherence to Mediterranean Diet and NAFLD in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome: The FLIPAN Study.

Abstract

[eng] Unhealthy diet is an important factor in the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease</p><p>(NAFLD). Previous studies showed the benefits of a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) on Metabolic</p><p>syndrome (MetS), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and cardiovascular diseases, which usually have</p><p>a pathophysiological relationship with NAFLD. To assess the effect of adherence to a MedDiet on</p><p>NAFLD in MetS patients after lifestyle intervention, this multicentre (Mallorca and Navarra, Spain)</p><p>prospective randomized trial, with personalized nutritional intervention based on a customized</p><p>MedDiet, coupled with physical activity promotion was performed to prevent, and reverse NAFLD</p><p>among patients with MetS. The current analysis included 138 patients aged 40 to 60 years old, Body</p><p>Mass Index (BMI) 27–40 kg/m2, diagnosed with NAFLD using MRI, and MetS according to the</p><p>International Diabetes Federation (IDF). A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to assess</p><p>dietary intake. Adherence to Mediterranean diet by means of a 17-item validated questionnaire,</p><p>anthropometrics, physical activity, blood pressure, blood biochemical parameters, and intrahepatic</p><p>fat contents (IFC) were measured. The independent variable used was changes in MedDiet adherence,</p><p>categorized in tertiles after 6 months follow-up. Subjects with high adherence to the MedDiet showed</p><p>higher decreases in BMI, body weight, WC, SBP, DBP, and IFC. An association between improvement</p><p>in adherence to the MedDiet and amelioration of IFC after 6-month follow-up was observed. High</p><p>adherence to the MedDiet is associated with better status of MetS features, and better values of IFC.</p>