Lifestyle and the risk of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the relation between lifestyle habits and hepatic steatosis and fibrosis, measured using hepatic elastography, in adults with Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study of the microDHNA cohort with adult patients diagnosed with MetS. Patients completed several lifestyle questionnaires, including the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, underwent blood analysis and liver elastography. Logistic regression models were performed to evaluate the associations between lifestyle and hepatic elastography parameters. Results: The population included (n=56) had a median age of 62.1 [52.9; 71.3] years, and 58.6% were female. The non-steatosis group reported higher vigorous physical activity (240.0 vs 0.0 MET-min/week, p<0.01), and less sedentary time during weekends (264.7±87.6 vs 349.2±115.1 minutes, p<0.01), reported more frequently a consumption of ≥ 7 cups of wine per week (47.1% vs 20.5%, p=0.043) and higher AUDIT score (4.0 [2.0, 4.0] vs 2.0 [0.0, 4.0], p=0.033) than the hepatic steatosis group. Red fruits were associated with a lower odd of hepatic steatosis (OR=0.47; 95%CI 0.23-0.95, p=0.034) while smoking increased the same odd (OR=3.46; 95%CI 1.03-11.60, p=0.044). Across elastography tertiles, weekend sedentary time (p=0.012) and preferential consumption of white meat increased (p<0.01), while tea consumption decreased (p=0.048). The non-fibrosis group reported higher olive oil intake (91.8% vs 57.1%, p<0.01), and less weekend sedentary time (304.9±108.1 vs 454.3±47.2 minutes, p<0.01). Conclusion: Our findings suggest a potential protective role of physical activity, olive oil, tea, red fruits and moderate wine intake on hepatic elastography, while smoking could have a detrimental role.