The Effects of Meal Patterns on Liver Steatosis, Fibrosis, and Biochemical Factors in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Overview

Journal J Diabetes Metab Disord

Specialty Endocrinology

Date 2024 Jun 27

PMID 38932893

Authors

Mohammad Alizadeh

Mohammadreza Mohammad Hosseiniazar

Farkhondeh Alami

Somayyeh Bararnia Adabi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: This study was designed to compare the effects of four meal patterns on liver steatosis, fibrosis, and biochemical factors in patients with Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: The 12-week intervention was performed on 123 patients with NAFLD who were randomly allocated into four groups: "3-meals", "skipping breakfast", "skipping dinner", and " 3 meals and 3 snacks per day." group. The assessment of liver steatosis, fibrosis, biochemical factors, and anthropometrical evaluation were performed at baseline and at end of the study.

Results: A significant improvement was found in the liver steatosis and fibrosis among the patients who consumed 3 meals, 3 snacks compared to the other groups ( < 0.001). In addition, a higher reduction was observed in serum levels of alanine amino transferase (ALT) (20.93 ± 23.37 mg/dl, < 0.001), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (17.15 ± 16.48 mg/dl, < 0.001), gamma-glutamyl transferase(GGT) (13.43 ± 13.41 mg/dl; < 0.001), and alkaline phosphatase (ALK) (47.19 ± 60.51 mg/dl; = 0.004) in patients who consumed 3 meals, 3 snacks, while the concentration of liver enzymes in patients who consumed 3 meals increased significantly. At the end of the study, there was a significant increase in the fasting blood sugar (FBS) concentration in the "skipping breakfast" group (17.51 ± 38.85 mg/dl; = 0.011) and "3-meals" group (17.51 ± 38.85 mg/dl, = 0.03).

Conclusion: Consuming 3 meals, 3 snack per day significantly improves disease severity and biochemical factors in NAFLD patients. Further studies are warranted.

Trial Registration Number: : IRCT20201010048982N2. Name of the registry: Urmia University of Medical Sciences. Date of registration: 2021-08-22, 1400/05/31. URL of trial registry record: https://www.irct.ir/search/result?query=IRCT20201010048982N2.

Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-023-01375-2.

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