Food Intake and Visceral Fat Deposition are Risk Factors of Incidence and Severity of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

ABSTRACT Background: Non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is abnormalities of metabolism resulting in fat deposition in the hepatocyte occurred in people who do not consume alcohol. Carbohydrate and fat intake, also visceral fat deposition has been studied as a risk factor of NAFLD, however the results remain elusive. Objective: To identity the nutritional and clinical risk factors of the incidence and severity of NAFLD. Methods: This study was done from June to December 2014 in the Dr. Kariadi Hospital Semarang. A case-control group was established comprising 33 patients with NAFLD based on the ultrasonography (USG) criteria (case group) and 34 healthy subject (control group). Carbohydrate and fat intake was assessed by using the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), visceral fat deposition was measured by body impedance analysis (BIA), and clinical markers were obtained from laboratory data. Results: Carbohydrate intake, fat intake, and visceral fat deposition were risk factors of the incidence and severity of NAFLD (OR=7.8, CI95% 2.43-25.45; OR=5.9, CI95% 2.0-17.57; OR=50.7, CI95% 6.16-418.09) and (OR=0.9, CI95% 1.06-90.58; OR=14.6, CI95% 1.37-156.88; OR=6.6, CI95% 1.17-37.78). Multivariate regression showed that the most important risk factor of NAFLD for the incidence and severity were hypertriglyceridemia (OR=8.7, CI95% 2.20-34.44) and fat intake (OR=48.4, CI95% 2.78-844.1), respectively. Conclusion: High carbohydrate intake, fat intake, and high visceral fat deposition are risk factors of the incidence and severity of NAFLD. Hypertriglyceridemia and fat intake are the most important risk factor of NAFLD incidence and severity, respectively