Nutritional and Metabolic Profile in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease after Lifestyle Management

Aims: The aim of this study was investigate whether a comprehensive lifestyle management is able to promote improvements in the nutritional and metabolic profiles of obese women with NAFLD.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was developed in the nutrition outpatient clinic of Julio Muller University Hospital from Mato Grosso Federal University at Cuiabá, Mato Grosso State, Brazil, during 6 months.
Methodology: We assessed 61 obese women who received instructional treatment to change their lifestyle, at baseline and after 6 months, by anthropometric, biochemical, clinical and ultrasound measurements including liver steatosis, visceral and subcutaneous adiposity. Food intake was assessed by a qualitative food frequency questionnaire and the women were placed in NAFLD group or Control group based on the presence of liver steatosis.
Results: No difference was found in food intake, but after treatment, both groups reduced their frequency of intake of fats, sugar and sweets and to increase their consumption of cereals, vegetables and fruits. The NAFLD group reduced body weight, waist circumference and liver steatosis. Both groups improved visceral and subcutaneous adiposity, the inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6) whereas leptin were elevated and adiponectin were lowered during all the study. Strong positive correlations were found in the NAFLD group between visceral adiposity and body mass index, between subcutaneous adiposity and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and between interleukin-6 and leptin. Although occurred in both groups during the study, high insulin resistance and low insulin sensitivity were more pronounced in the NAFLD group.
Conclusion: We observed that even a small management in lifestyle can play an important role in the improvement of nutritional and metabolic profiles of obese women with NAFLD.