NASH Prevention

Diet, nutrition and lifestyle can be an important aspect of preventing or treating NAFLD and NASH. The primary risk factors of the diseases include obesity, Type II diabetes, and high cholesterol.^[1] In the early stages, NAFLD can be tempered through lifestyle and diet changes.^[2] Your physician may suggest switching to a low-fat diet with no concentrated sweets and reducing calorie intake.^[3] Diet changes will often be paired with moderate exercise.^[4]

Studies have shown that some patients have a predisposition to developing NAFLD and NASH and new research on gut microbiome demonstrates the vast complexity of these conditions.^[5] For these patients, a diet high in fat along with a genetic predisposition can create a perfect storm for NASH development.^[6] A diet low in fat and moderate exercise can be important to preventing and abating NAFLD and NASH.

[1] Dominguez, Christine, “NASH Syndrome: The Coming Epidemic,” Gastroenterology Nursing 41.4 (2018) 316-320.

[2] Hekmatdoost A. Prevention of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Progression to Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) by Modification of Lifestyle and Dietary Supplements. J Clin Nutr Diet. 2016, 2:2.

[3] National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for NAFLD & NASH. See https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/nafld-nash/eating-diet-nutritionhttps://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/nafld-nash/eating-diet-nutrition

[4] Ibid.

[5] See https://www.fiercebiotech.com/research/hard-to-overcome-obesity-gut-microbiome-might-to-blame

[6] Trovato, F. M., Cantalano, D., Musumeci, G., & Trovato, G. M. “4Ps medicine of the fatty liver: The research model of predictive, preventive, personalized and participatory medicine—Recommendations for facing obesity, fatty liver and fibrosis epidemics.” The EPMA Journal, 5, 21. (2014) 5-21.