Evaluation of the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean and DASH diet and nutritional status in non-alcoholic fatty liver patients

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between the disease and adherence to the Mediterranean and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet of individuals diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and to evaluate the relationship with food consumption, biochemical findings and anthropometric measurements. The study was conducted with 75 individuals between the ages of 26-65 who applied to Başkent University Ankara Hospital Gastroenterology Outpatient Clinic between February 2021 and December 2022 and were diagnosed with NAFLD. A 24-hour food consumption record was taken to evaluate the nutritional status of the individuals and to determine their compliance with the DASH diet. The Mediterranean Diet Adherence Scale (MEDAS) consisting of 14 questions was applied to the individuals to determine their compliance with the Mediterranean diet. Individuals were divided into groups as compatible and incompatible with the Mediterranean and DASH diets. It was determined that 30.7% of the individuals participating in the study had acceptable compliance with the Mediterranean diet, and 69.3% did not comply with the Mediterranean diet. It was determined that the daily energy intake and the amount of fat in individuals who did not comply with the Mediterranean diet were higher than those with acceptable compliance with the Mediterranean diet (p<0.05). Grade 3 adiposity was found to be higher in individuals who did not comply with the Mediterranean diet, but it was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Fasting insulin, LDL-cholesterol, AST, ALT and GGT values were found to be higher in individuals who did not comply with the Mediterranean diet, but were not statistically significant (p>0.05). It was observed that as adherence to the Mediterranean diet decreased in the individuals participating in the study, AST levels increased (r= -0.295) (p<0.05). It was observed that 2.7% of the individuals participating in the study were in compliance with the DASH diet, while 97.3% did not comply with the DASH diet. It was determined that the amount of soluble fiber in the diet was higher in the individuals who comply with the DASH diet compared to those who do not comply with the DASH diet (p<0.05). Grade 3 adiposity was found to be higher in individuals who did not comply with the DASH diet, but it was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Fasting blood glucose, HOMA-IR, VLDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, AST, ALT, ALP and GGT values were found to be higher in individuals who did not comply with the DASH diet, but were not statistically significant (p>0.05). It was observed that as the Mediterranean diet compliance scores of the individuals participating in the study increased, the DASH diet compliance scores also increased (r=0.228, p<0.05). In conclusion, individuals with low adherence to the Mediterranean and DASH diets seem to be associated with higher risks in parameters related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Therefore, it should be kept in mind that compliance with these dietary models provides benefits in NAFLD and disease-related parameters and should be considered as an important treatment approach in the treatment of the disease.