A diet with a high intake of proteins of animal origin would represent a possible risk factor for the onset of the fatty liver disease, i. e. non-alcoholic liver steatosis, while the consumption of mono- and disaccharide sugars would not be negatively associated with this disease. This comes from a recent research carried out by the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam (Netherlands). We talk about this topic with Dr. Roberto Ceriani, Head of the Section of the Hepathological Day Hospital and interventional hepatology at Humanitas.
Non-alcoholic liver steatosis can impair liver function and lead to the development of cirrhosis, and obesity is one of its risk factors. The study, presented at the last International Liver Congress, suggested a link between diet composition and liver fat onset.
The research examined data from the Rotterdam Study, an important research work carried out in the Netherlands on 3440 individuals (30% normal weight and 70% overweight), with an average age of 71 years. The assessment of dietary habits revealed an association between high animal protein consumption and increased risk of developing non-alcoholic steatosic liver disease.
However, the issues are controversial and debated in research: “The data that emerge are sometimes conflicting, especially when compared between different populations and in different environments,” recalls Dr. Ceriani. For example, according to a German study published in 2016 on Gastroenterology, a diet with a high protein content reduces the fat content of the liver in patients with type 2 diabetes and steatosis, regardless of the origin of the protein or changes in body weight,” the expert points out.
Fructose and liver fat
The other evidence from the Dutch research shows that sugar consumption is also involved. Although the food guidelines warn against the consumption of food containing fructose – the author of the study recalls – the research did not indicate a dangerous association between monosaccharaides such as fructose and disaccharides with the liver fat per se.
Also with regard to this report, the conclusions of the scientific research seem to disagree: “Recent publications, including a study conducted in Italy and published in the Journal of Hepatology last February, – recalls Dr. Ceriani – have highlighted that in obese young people the diet with a high fructose content may be more likely to develop serious chronic liver damage comparable to alcohol damage in adults”.
How do you act then to prevent fat liver? The common denominator – concludes the specialist – remains a healthy and balanced diet and a correct application to physical activity “.
