Beyond medication: Unveiling the role of diet and lifestyle in fatty liver disease management
Background: Fatty liver disease (FLD), also known as hepatic steatosis, is characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver, which can lead to inflammation, scarring, and severe liver damage. The global prevalence of FLD is increasing, exacerbated by factors such as obesity, diabetes, and poor...
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Human Nutrition & Metabolism |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666149725000209 |
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| author | Iahtisham-Ul-Haq Muhammad Nadeem Aanchal Sharma Robert Mugabi Muhammad Waseem Gulzar Ahmad Nayik |
| author_facet | Iahtisham-Ul-Haq Muhammad Nadeem Aanchal Sharma Robert Mugabi Muhammad Waseem Gulzar Ahmad Nayik |
| author_sort | Iahtisham-Ul-Haq |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Fatty liver disease (FLD), also known as hepatic steatosis, is characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver, which can lead to inflammation, scarring, and severe liver damage. The global prevalence of FLD is increasing, exacerbated by factors such as obesity, diabetes, and poor lifestyle choices. Aims: This review aims to explore the role of dietary and lifestyle modifications in the prevention and management of FLD. It provides evidence-based recommendations to help mitigate the progression of the disease through non-pharmacological interventions. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was done using various reliable online databases (PubMed Central, Research Gate, National Center for Biotechnology Information, Google scholar, Science Direct, National Institute of Health and related databases). Full length research or review articles in English or bilingual were selected based on fatty liver disease while unpublished or irrelevant articles were excluded. The collected data were analyzed to identify effective dietary and lifestyle practices for managing FLD. Results: The findings indicate that dietary modifications, including reduced intake of saturated and trans fats, sugars, and alcohol, alongside increased consumption of healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, and lean proteins, can significantly alleviate FLD symptoms. Regular physical activity also plays a critical role in managing the disease. Conclusion: Strategic dietary interventions include vitamin D, Vitamin E, low carbohydrates, high protein (varying results found in literature), low saturated fat but mono and poly unsaturated fatty acids, fish meat, nuts, herbs (green tea and lemon grass) and bioactive rich food commodities are impactful. Nonetheless, adopting a healthier lifestyle i.e., by avoiding smoking and a sedentary lifestyle, managing co-morbid disorders, and abstaining from skipping meals are recommended for better management and prevention of FLD. However, analysis of factors causing FLD demands more elaborative, customized, and rigorous interdisciplinary research to vividly elucidate the effect of specific dietary components on treatment of FLD. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9444b94a74cb4d7c8ee0ca32cdb2fe41 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2666-1497 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Human Nutrition & Metabolism |
| spelling | doaj-art-9444b94a74cb4d7c8ee0ca32cdb2fe412025-08-20T02:55:20ZengElsevierHuman Nutrition & Metabolism2666-14972025-06-014020031710.1016/j.hnm.2025.200317Beyond medication: Unveiling the role of diet and lifestyle in fatty liver disease management Iahtisham-Ul-Haq0Muhammad Nadeem1Aanchal Sharma2Robert Mugabi3Muhammad Waseem4Gulzar Ahmad Nayik5Kauser Abdulla Malik School of Life Sciences, Forman Christian College (A Chartered University), Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan; Corresponding author.School of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Punjab, PakistanUniversity Centre for Research and Development, Chandigarh University-Mohali, 140413, Punjab, IndiaDepartment of Food Technology and Nutrition, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Corresponding author.Department of Food Science & Technology, Faculty of Agriculture & Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Punjab, 63100, PakistanMarwadi University Research Centre, Department of Microbiology, Marwadi University, Rajkot, Gujarat, 360003, India; Corresponding author.Background: Fatty liver disease (FLD), also known as hepatic steatosis, is characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver, which can lead to inflammation, scarring, and severe liver damage. The global prevalence of FLD is increasing, exacerbated by factors such as obesity, diabetes, and poor lifestyle choices. Aims: This review aims to explore the role of dietary and lifestyle modifications in the prevention and management of FLD. It provides evidence-based recommendations to help mitigate the progression of the disease through non-pharmacological interventions. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was done using various reliable online databases (PubMed Central, Research Gate, National Center for Biotechnology Information, Google scholar, Science Direct, National Institute of Health and related databases). Full length research or review articles in English or bilingual were selected based on fatty liver disease while unpublished or irrelevant articles were excluded. The collected data were analyzed to identify effective dietary and lifestyle practices for managing FLD. Results: The findings indicate that dietary modifications, including reduced intake of saturated and trans fats, sugars, and alcohol, alongside increased consumption of healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, and lean proteins, can significantly alleviate FLD symptoms. Regular physical activity also plays a critical role in managing the disease. Conclusion: Strategic dietary interventions include vitamin D, Vitamin E, low carbohydrates, high protein (varying results found in literature), low saturated fat but mono and poly unsaturated fatty acids, fish meat, nuts, herbs (green tea and lemon grass) and bioactive rich food commodities are impactful. Nonetheless, adopting a healthier lifestyle i.e., by avoiding smoking and a sedentary lifestyle, managing co-morbid disorders, and abstaining from skipping meals are recommended for better management and prevention of FLD. However, analysis of factors causing FLD demands more elaborative, customized, and rigorous interdisciplinary research to vividly elucidate the effect of specific dietary components on treatment of FLD.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666149725000209Fatty liver diseaseHepatic steatosisDietary modificationLifestyle practices |
| spellingShingle | Iahtisham-Ul-Haq Muhammad Nadeem Aanchal Sharma Robert Mugabi Muhammad Waseem Gulzar Ahmad Nayik Beyond medication: Unveiling the role of diet and lifestyle in fatty liver disease management Human Nutrition & Metabolism Fatty liver disease Hepatic steatosis Dietary modification Lifestyle practices |
| title | Beyond medication: Unveiling the role of diet and lifestyle in fatty liver disease management |
| title_full | Beyond medication: Unveiling the role of diet and lifestyle in fatty liver disease management |
| title_fullStr | Beyond medication: Unveiling the role of diet and lifestyle in fatty liver disease management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Beyond medication: Unveiling the role of diet and lifestyle in fatty liver disease management |
| title_short | Beyond medication: Unveiling the role of diet and lifestyle in fatty liver disease management |
| title_sort | beyond medication unveiling the role of diet and lifestyle in fatty liver disease management |
| topic | Fatty liver disease Hepatic steatosis Dietary modification Lifestyle practices |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666149725000209 |
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