CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Introduction: Non-Alcoholic Liver Disease (NAFLD) is currently the most common form ofliver disease worldwide affecting all ages and ethnic groups and it has become a consistent threat even inyoung people. Our aim was to estimate the effect of a Low Glycemic Index Mediterranean Diet (LGIMD)on the NAFLD score as measured by a Liver Ultrasonography (LUS). Design: NUTRIzione in EPAtologia(NUTRIEPA) is a population-based Double-Blind RCT. Data were collected in 2011 and analyzed in 2013-14.Setting/participants: 98 men and women coming from Putignano (Puglia, Southern Italy) were drawn froma previous randomly sampled population-based study and identified as having moderate or severe NAFLD.Intervention: The intervention strategy was the assignment of a LGIMD or a control diet. Outcome measures:The main outcome measure was NAFLD score, defined by LUS. Results: After randomization, 50 subjects wereassigned to a LGIMD and 48 to a control diet. The study lasted six months and all participants were subjectto monthly controls/checks. Adherence to the LGIMD as measured by Mediterranean Adequacy Index (MAI)showed a median of 10.1. A negative interaction between time and LGIMD on the NAFLD score (-4.14, 95% CI-6.78,-1.49) was observed, and became more evident at the sixth month (-4.43, 95%CI -7.15, -1.71). A positiveeffect of the interaction among LGIMD, time and age (Third month: 0.07, 95% CI 0.02, 0.12; Sixth month:0.08, 95% CI 0.03,0.13) was also observed. Conclusions: LGIMD was found to decrease the NAFLD score ina relatively short time. Encouraging those subjects who do not seek medical attention but still have NAFLD tofollow a LGIMD and other life-style interventions, may reduce the degree of severity of the disease. Dietaryintervention of this kind, could also form the cornerstone of primary prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus(T2DM) and cardiovascular disease