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Publications

Journal Article Epublish

PubMed: 40444252 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1569814

The association between lifelines diet score and metabolic associated fatty liver disease: a case-control study.

Front Nutr 12:1569814

Authors: Thanyaporn Direksunthorn, Amr Ali Mohamed Abdelgawwad El-Sehrawy, Ahmed Hjazi, Safia Obaidur Rab, Marwah Suliman Maashi

Affiliations

  • School of Medicine, Walailak University, Tha Sala District, Surat Skin Clinic, Surat Thani, Thailand.
  • Department of internal Medicine, Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
  • Department of Medical Laboratory, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
  • Central Labs, King Khalid University, AlQura'a, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
  • Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
  • Medical Laboratory Sciences Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  • Regenerative Medicine Unit at King Fahd Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Introduction

Adherence to a healthy dietary pattern is a fundamental recommendation for the prevention of Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD); however, conclusive evidence regarding the optimal dietary pattern remains elusive.

Objectives

The Lifelines Diet Score (LLDS) is a novel, evidence-based scoring system designed to evaluate diet quality. However, despite the extensive research on dietary patterns and liver health, the specific relationship between the LLDS and MAFLD remains underexplored. This study aims to investigate the association between LLDS and MAFLD, providing insights into how dietary adherence, as measured by LLDS, may influence the risk and prevalence of MAFLD.

Methods

This case-control study enrolled 215 individuals who had recently been diagnosed with MAFLD and 430 healthy controls at King Khalid University Hospital. All participants were aged between 20 and 60 years, with data collection occurring from February 2023 to January 2025. The dietary intake of the participants was assessed through the utilization of a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, which comprised a total of 168 distinct food items. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between LLDS and MAFLD.

Results

Out of 645 participants, 215 newly diagnosed MAFLD patients and 430 healthy controls were analyzed. After stratifying participants based on LLDS tertiles, those in the highest LLDS group had a 78% lower odds of MAFLD than those in the lowest tertile (odds ratio (OR): 0.22; 95% Confidence interval (CI): 0.12-0.36, p for trend <0.001). The association remained robust even after adjustment for major confounders. These findings highlight a novel and robust association between LLDS and MAFLD, providing evidence for dietary pattern assessment in liver health research.

Conclusion

Our study strengthens the evidence that adherence to a healthy dietary pattern (as measured by LLDS) is associated with a lower MAFLD risk, even after accounting for major confounders. However, further research integrating genetic and molecular data is needed to refine personalized dietary recommendations for MAFLD prevention.

MeSH

Liver Diseases, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Case-Control Studies, Liver, Diet, Food, Research, Fatty Liver, Dietary Patterns