Mediterranean diet and metabolic outcomes in nafld/masld: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Juan José Valenzuela-Fuenzalida, Tamara Salazar-Arancibia, Benjamin Laborie-Reyes et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of the Mediterranean diet on metabolic outcomes in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Involving 980 participants from 11 randomized controlled trials, the study found that adherence to the Mediterranean diet significantly reduced body mass index (SMD -0.43) and triglycerides (SMD -0.50) compared to control diets, although most outcomes showed low certainty.
Key findings
- Mediterranean diet reduced body mass index by SMD -0.43 compared to control diets.
- Triglyceride levels decreased significantly with the Mediterranean diet (SMD -0.50).
- No significant differences were found for body weight, waist circumference, or liver enzymes.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that while the Mediterranean diet may offer modest benefits in reducing BMI and triglycerides in patients with NAFLD/MASLD, its overall impact on metabolic and hepatic outcomes remains uncertain, highlighting the need for further research.
What to keep in mind
Heterogeneity was moderate to high across several outcomes, and most outcomes were graded as low to very low certainty.