# A Dose–Response Study on the Relationship Between Red Meat Intake and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) in Southern Italy: Results from the Nutrihep Study

## TL;DR

This study examines how red meat intake relates to liver disease in Southern Italy, finding sex-specific effects on metabolic outcomes.

## Contribution

The study identifies sex-specific associations between red meat consumption and MASLD, highlighting differential effects based on meat types and preparation.

## Key findings

- Red meat consumption between 75 and 90 g/day showed an unfavorable influence on MASLD in males.
- Preferences for specific types of red meat were differentially associated with metabolic outcomes based on sex.
- Overall, red meat consumption did not show a consistent dose–response trend with MASLD.

## Abstract

(1) Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease (MASLD) has emerged as a leading cause of liver conditions globally. The increasing trend in meat consumption, particularly red meat, has prompted examination of its effects on cardiometabolic health. This study aimed to explore how varying levels of red meat intake relate to MASLD in a population from Southern Italy. (2) Methods: We analyzed data from a cross-sectional study involving 1192 participants (42.7% male), with complete data available from the second NUTRIHEP survey wave (2014–2016). Statistical analysis utilized adjusted dose–response modeling. (3) Results: Subjects with MASLD numbered 587 (49.2%), including 278 males (54.6%) and 309 females (45.2%). Red meat consumption between 75 and 90 g/day revealed an unfavorable influence on MASLD in males. Interestingly, sex seem to play a role in this association, both in harmful (OR > 1) and protective (OR < 1) ways, associated with specific foods such as liver (OR = 0.936, p = 0.087) and red meatballs (OR = 0.584, p = 0.023) in males and roast red meat (OR = 2.152, p = 0.097), red cutlet (OR = 0.540, p = 0.087), and red meat slices (OR = 0.952, p = 0.076) in females. (4) Conclusions: A suspicious dose–response relationship was observed solely in men, limited to intake levels between 75 and 90 g/day. Overall, red meat consumption did not exhibit a consistent dose–response trend with MASLD. Furthermore, preferences for specific types, cuts, and preparations of red meat were differentially associated with metabolic outcomes based on sex.