The influence of diet and nutrition on liver health

Abstract

Can what we eat truly reshape the trajectory of liver disease? This question sits at the heart of ongoing debates in hepatology and nutritional science. The liver, responsible for over 500 metabolic functions, responds directly to the composition and quality of dietary intake. This research examined the relationship between distinct dietary patterns and markers of hepatic health among 138 adult participants in Lyon, France, over a 12-month observation period from January 2019 to December 2019. Participants were randomized into three groups: a Mediterranean diet arm (n = 47), a Western diet arm (n = 52), and a standard control arm (n = 39). Hepatic function was assessed through serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) fibrosis scores measured at baseline and bimonthly intervals. Secondary outcomes included body mass index (BMI), fasting lipid profiles, and dietary adherence scores. Results indicated that participants following the Mediterranean diet showed a statistically meaningful reduction in ALT levels from 58.3 U/L at baseline to 29.4 U/L at 12 months (p