Pros and cons of different dietary patterns for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
Patrizia Palumbo, Giada Di Betto, Renata Menozzi, Ger H. Koek, Elena Buzzetti
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is becoming the most prevalent hepatic disorder, affecting up to 33 % of the global population. An altered lifestyle, characterized by extended physical inactivity and increased consumption of highly caloric food, often low in nutritional value, is recognised as one of the main contributing factors for MASLD. Cornerstone for MASLD treatment is a healthy lifestyle, starting from diet. However, the most appropriate dietary pattern for the treatment of MASLD remains a subject of debate. The aims of this narrative review are therefore to explore the mechanisms through which nutrition influences MASLD pathogenesis and to evaluate different dietary patterns for MASLD treatment, highlighting their advantages and limitations. Multiple dietary patterns-including the Mediterranean Diet (MD), the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), the Low-Carb Diet (LCD), the Ketogenic Diet (specifically the Very Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet, VLCKD), the Low-Fat Diet (LFD), Vegetarian Diets (VDs), and Intermittent Fasting (IF)-are reviewed, with a focus on their efficacy on MASLD and the ameliorating of the associated cardiometabolic risks factors (CMRF).