A new study has found that following a Japanese-style diet can help people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) slow its progression. The authors of the study tracked the diet and disease progression of 136 people with NAFLD being treated at the Osaka Metropolitan University Hospital in Japan.
Researchers scored the diet of each individual according to its adherence to the 12-component Japanese Diet Index, or mJDI12. High mJDI12 scores were associated with a slowing of the progression of liver fibrosis that accompanies NAFLD or non alcoholic fatty liver disease.
The Japanese diet consists of 12 foods and food groups:
- rice
- miso soup
- pickles
- soy products
- green and yellow vegetables
- fruits
- seafood
- mushrooms
- seaweed
- green tea
- coffee
- beef and pork
The researchers also tracked the effect of the diet on muscle mass and found that people who ate more soy products built a greater amount, in addition to having low rates of fibrosis progression.
NAFLD Or Non alcoholic fatty liver disease
NAFLD or non alcoholic fatty liver disease is a largely symptomless condition in which fat builds up in the liver, potentially affecting the function of the organ, although it does not directly damage it.
With NAFLD, a person is at higher risk of non-liver malignancies such as colorectal cancer, chronic kidney disease, gastroesophageal reflux, obstructive sleep apnea, hypothyroidism, periodontitis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and psychological and growth hormone problems.
The study is published in MDPI.
