Exploring the association between dietary fiber intake and hepatic steatosis: insights from NHANES

• Published in: BMC gastroenterology Vol. 24; no. 1; p. 160
• Main Authors: Chen, Xingxing, Fu, Liying, Zhu, Zhongxin, Wang, Yunchao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 10.05.2024; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adult; Biomarkers; Biopsy; Body mass index; Cholesterol; Composition; Controlled attenuation parameter; Cross-sectional study; Diabetes; Dietary fiber; Dietary Fiber - administration & dosage; Dietary fiber intake; Dietary intake; Ethnicity; Fatty liver; Female; Fiber in human nutrition; Glucose; Health aspects; Hepatic steatosis; Hepatitis; High density lipoprotein; Humans; Hypertension; Inflammation; Interviews; Liver; Liver diseases; Low density lipoprotein; Male; Microbiota (Symbiotic organisms); Middle Aged; NHANES; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease - epidemiology; Nutrition research; Nutrition Surveys; Nutrition therapy; Prevention; Regression analysis; Risk factors; Sex Factors; Steatosis; Ultrasonic imaging; United States - epidemiology; Uric acid; Variables; Womens health; United States; China; United States > US; Controlled attenuation parameter; Dietary fiber intake; NHANES; Cross-sectional study; Hepatic steatosis
• ISSN: 1471-230X; 1471-230X
• DOI: 10.1186/s12876-024-03256-1

The link between dietary fiber intake and Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is under exploration, yielding inconsistent findings. Considering the limitations of previous research and the significance of dietary fiber in hepatic steatosis, this study investigates the association between dietary fiber intake and Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) among 5935 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Multivariable regression was used to evaluate the association between dietary fiber intake and CAP. Smoothed curve fitting and threshold effect analysis techniques were applied to illustrate non-linear relationships. After adjusting for other variables, a negative correlation emerged between dietary fiber intake and CAP. Subgroup analysis by gender and race/ethnicity revealed a sustained negative association between dietary fiber intake and CAP among females and Whites. Additionally, an inverted U-shaped relationship was observed between dietary fiber intake and CAP among women and other race, with inflection points at 13.80 g/day and 33.45 g/day, respectively. Our research indicates that in the majority of Americans, there is an inverse relationship between dietary fiber intake and hepatic steatosis. This relationship exhibits an inverted U-shaped curve in women and other race, with a threshold effect. The findings of this study hold potential significance for clinical nutrition interventions, personalized dietary guidance, and advancing research into the diet-disease mechanism relationship.