Prevalence and dietary factors associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in a sample of obese middle-aged Egyptian women

TL;DR

This study found that nearly 60% of obese middle-aged Egyptian women have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which is linked to poor diet and lifestyle factors.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into the prevalence and dietary associations of NAFLD in a specific demographic of Egyptian women.

Findings

NAFLD was detected in 59% of the obese women studied.

High caloric intake from saturated fats and low vitamin levels were associated with NAFLD severity.

NAFLD severity correlated with obesity markers and unhealthy dietary patterns.

Abstract

This study investigated the prevalence of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) among a sample of middle-aged obese Egyptian women and explored the associations between nutritional status, dietary habits and NAFLD development, with the aim of increasing nutritional awareness and reducing NAFLD risk. A total of 84 obese women were evaluated using dietary assessments, anthropometric measurements, abdominal ultrasonography, fasting blood glucose, lipid profile and liver function tests. NAFLD was detected in 59% of participants and was associated with obesity, suboptimal dietary habits and low physical activity. Participants with moderate NAFLD had the highest caloric intake, primarily from saturated fats, and exhibited deficiencies in several essential vitamins. NAFLD severity was positively correlated with body mass index, body fat percentage, waist circumference, alanine aminotransferase levels and dietary fat intake, and negatively correlated with most fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins. In conclusion, these findings suggest that NAFLD is relatively common among obese Egyptian women and is associated with obesity and lifestyle-related factors. Dietary patterns characterized by high energy intake, refined sugars, and unhealthy fats were more frequently observed among participants with greater disease severity. As diet and lifestyle are potentially modifiable risk factors, nutritional education and the promotion of healthier dietary and lifestyle practices may be beneficial in addressing NAFLD risk and progression.

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