How to protect your liver – a dietary treatment for NAFLD patients as revealed by a new study
Fatty liver disease is characterized by the accumulation of fat within the liver, primarily caused by alcohol consumption and obesity. However, a similar condition, known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is prevalent among people who do not consume high levels of alcohol. Individuals who are overweight or obese, and/or have type 2 diabetes, are at greater risk of developing NAFLD.
As liver cells are damaged over time, the liver’s ability to function declines, resulting in the buildup of significant scar tissue, leading to liver cirrhosis in its advanced stages. Patients with cirrhosis may experience symptoms of liver failure, such as jaundice, ascites, bleeding from varices in the gullet, and confusion.
According to the NHS, the best way to reduce the risk of obesity is to adopt a healthy, reduced-calorie diet and engage in regular exercise. They recommend fast walking, jogging, swimming, or tennis for 150 to 300 minutes (2.5 to 5 hours) per week.
Fortunately, a recent study has shown that following a Japanese diet can improve liver health and help reverse and prevent fatty liver disease.
Japanese food is renowned worldwide and has earned a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage designation. The 12-component modified Japanese Diet Index (mJDI12) is a scoring system that measures adherence to the Japanese diet pattern.
This index focuses on the intake of 12 specific foods and food groups, including rice, miso soup, pickles, soy products, green and yellow vegetables, fruits, seafood, mushrooms, seaweed, green tea, coffee, and beef and pork.
Scores on the mJDI12 range from 0 to 12, with higher scores indicating greater adherence to the Japanese food pattern.
A team of researchers led by Dr. Hideki Fujii M.D. and Associate Professor Yoshinari Matsumoto at Osaka Metropolitan University investigated the relationship between mJDI12 scores, muscle mass, and liver fibrosis progression in 136 patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) who were receiving care at Osaka Metropolitan University Hospital.
According to the research conducted by the group, it was observed that individuals with a higher mJDI12 exhibited a reduced progression of liver fibrosis.
The study also revealed that a Japanese diet high in soy products, seafood, and seaweed had a suppressive effect on the progression of liver fibrosis.
Furthermore, it was found that the group consuming a higher intake of soy products exhibited higher muscle mass, which in turn was associated with a lower degree of liver fibrosis progression.
According to the study published in the journal Nutrients, the Japanese dietary pattern could be a promising dietary treatment for patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Professor Matsumoto, the lead researcher, concluded that the study’s findings suggest the potential for establishing an effective diet for NAFLD patients through further intervention studies. This research offers hope for developing a nutritional strategy to combat this increasingly common liver disease.
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